Khaps mum on cases of honour killing, rape

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, July 22

The incidents of rape and honour killings are on the rise in the state and the silence of khap panchayat on the promise they had made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join his Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign during their meeting a year ago is conspicuous.

When contacted by The Tribune, a number of khap leaders said they had no plans to initiate a campaign on women’s issues, while maintaining that they had been contributing to the cause of female foeticide in their own inimitable style.

“We don’t want to comment on the incidents of rape or honour killings. Our main concern is curbing female foeticide and the state’s child sex ratio shows that there has been a positive change in the societal mindset,” said Sube Singh Samian, spokesperson of the Sarv Khap Panchayat.

“Khaps were already running the Beti Bachao campaign when PM Modi came up with the initiative last year. Our campaign is more effective, as it become a point of discussion over ‘hukkah’ meetings. Khaps denounce those who indulge in female foeticide. We don’t believe in holding seminars that are more of self-promotion propagandas,” said Samian, maintaining there had been spontaneous change in the mindset in society and parents don’t discriminate between girl and boy.

Nafe Singh Nain, pradhan of the Sarv Khap, also denied having any plans for carrying out any such campaign. He also refused to comment on the incidents of crime against women, while maintaining the khaps didn’t support any gender bias.

Krishan Swaroop Gorakhpuria, a panchayati raj expert and a khap critic, said khap panchayats didn’t have a structure. “These are self-styled bodies that have their own biases and prejudices. They have shown no signs of their relenting from hardened views on the gotra or women rights so far,” he said.

Dr Raj Kumar Siwach, Dean, faculty of social sciences, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, said khaps were being used as a ladder to gain political prominence by certain elements. “Khaps are on crossroads and they would not survive if they don’t change its style of functioning,” he added.