Chandigarh: Industrialist and Congress MP Naveen Jindal on Sunday supported the Haryana khap panchayats' (caste councils) demand for amending the Hindu Marriage Act to ban marriages within the same gotra or subcaste.
Jindal, who is currently abroad, has sent a letter to the Khap representatives declaring his support on the issue.
"Before leaving India, Jindal signed the letter and we have sent it to the representatives of khap panchayats. Jindal has extended his full support and assured of every possible assistance," said Vivek Mittal, personal secretary to Jindal.
"I come from Haryana and Khaps are a part of the old social structure. They have some views which they want me to take to the Centre. I shall, but I have also clarified that laws of the country have to be followed," said Jindal.
Various khap panchayats have launched a widespread campaign seeking an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to outlaw marriages within the same gotra.
Verdicts of khap panchayats against people marrying in the same subcaste has led to a spate of "honour killings" in the state. Many couples and their families have also been socially boycotted and forced to leave their homes and land.
The panchayats insist that it's an age old belief that two people of the same subcaste are considered as siblings and cannot marry.
In their meeting at Kurukshetra on May 2, the panchayats had appealed to all elected representatives of Haryana to support their demand within a month.
"Jindal has also urged them to fight against other social evils like dowry system and female foeticide plaguing our society. He could not attend the last meeting of Khaps due to his tight schedule, but has promised to try his level best to attend forthcoming meetings," said Jindal's aide.
Khap panchayats had earlier announced a siege of Jindal's home in Kurukshetra in case he did not support their demand.
In fact, Jindal attended a khap mahapanchayat at Kaithal in Haryana on Monday, supporting their stand against marriages in the same gotra or subcaste. But Jindal has told the Khaps to also follow the law. Khap panchayats have come under much criticism for ordering honour killings across Haryana.
Jindal is not the only Congress leader to come out in support of caste panchayats. Congress MP Shadi Lal Batra has already moved a Private Member's Bill in Parliament for banning same subacste marriage.
In fact, reports say Jindal has showered praises on the Khaps for their fight against such social evils.
The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has reacted to Navin Jindal's visit to Khap panchayats meeting on Monday.
"If somebody is supporting the khap panchayats then it is not correct. Justifying honour killing is unfortunate, " said BJP Spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.
A few days ago, the opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) also agreed to support the demand for an amendment as demanded by the councils.
The demand comes after a Haryana court gave capital punishment in March to five people for an "honour killing".
A Karnal court had sentenced five people to death and one person to life imprisonment for killing a couple who had married despite belonging to the same gotra.
The murdered couple, Manoj, 23, and Babli, 19, had married in 2007 against the wishes of their families.
They were murdered by members of Babli's family.
Defiant khap leaders are headed for a confrontation with the state government and recent rulings of the Punjab and Haryana High Court over illegal decisions on marriages announced by various panchayats.
Khap leaders have proposed to hold another 'mahapanchayat' (grand council) in western Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district on May 14.
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