The Khap controversy putting Jat identity in crisis

In the midst of a controversy stirred by support from politicians like Naveen Jindal and Om Prakash Chautala to medieval diktats of khap panchayats, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said society should be more tolerant of 'people in love'. On his last day in office, the CJI tried to avoid answering a question that is almost a political hot potato but he could not restrain his feelings brimming over at a crowded press conference here. "Laws do not govern the mindset of those in love. Once you are in love, you do not keep in mind the law," he said adopting a sympathetic tone towards couples who have faced the ire of khap panchayats. This remark assumes significance since he was well aware of prohibited relations under Hindu marriage law.

Congress has come out strongly against Khap stridency, with AICC asking Kurukshetra MP Navin Jindal to explain the controversy about his involvement on the issue of same-gotra marriage. AICC general secretary Prithviraj Chavan is learnt to have asked Jindal about the facts relating to reports that he was sympathetic to Khaps seeking ban on same-gotra marriage but which also backed honour killings in defence of their tradition. Jindal told TOI that he had clarified through a letter to the leadership that he had not backed any wrong action of any outfit.

Khaps are being projected more dangerous than Kasab. Neloopatal Basu may clarify that i am not holding brief for thier alleged fatwas of honour killings and breaking marriages between couples which they did not like and asking them to live like brother and sister even after several years of the marriage. I also do not agree to their demand of banning the marriages in same villages as in some parts of Haryana adjoining Rajsthan and in Rajssthan it is common practise. Even in home village of Om Parkash Chautala, this practise is common and D.R.Choudhary, member of Haryana administrative reforms commission of the village is married in the same village. But certainly their demand for banning marriages between same gotra has overwhelming support cutting across caste lines. Mange Ram Sharma, president of all World Brahmin Sabha has also supported this demand adding that marriage between same gotra is sin and it is not the issue conmcerning only the jats.

The National Human Rights Commission has commented that no one has the right to take law in thier own hands by violating an individuals right to life in the name of traditions. C.P.I {M} has even gone upto the extent of smelling conspiracy by the communal forces over the issue as its pilitbuearo member Neloopatal Basu has alleged while addressing a press conference at Chandigarh recently.