Activist criticises politicians for supporting khaps
By IANSWednesday, July 28, 2010
NEW DELHI - A woman activist Wednesday criticised politicians who directly or indirectly support the diktats of khap panchayats against same gotra marriages.
Speaking on ‘honour killings’ during a lecture at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) here, Jagmati Sangwan, president of the Haryana unit of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), said politicians should refrain from supporting the khaps.
Targeting leaders like former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and MP Naveen Jindal, she said: “What is the need of standing in front of the khaps with hands folded. This is not acceptable.”
Sangwan also claimed that the village to which Chautala belongs permits same gotra marriages.
According to her, honour killing is a mere ploy used by the Khap panchayats to gain political mileage and gain popularity.
The activist said that a survey conducted by NGO Shanti Vahini and financed by the National Commission for Women showed that only 2.4 percent of the 354 surveyed married couples in Haryana had married within the same gotra.
