Khaps to approach PM to make same-gotra marriages illegal

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra December 28

Votaries of a ban on same-gotra marriages, khap panchayats will approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek an amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act to make such alliances illegal.

Santosh Dahiya, president of Sarva Jaat Sarva Khap Mahapanchayat’s women wing, said, “Same-gotra marriages are not acceptable. The issue is not only connected to social beliefs and customs, but there also are scientific reasons to oppose such alliances. It has been scientifically proven that marriages among close relatives may lead to genetic disorders in the offspring.”

The women khap leader said they were firm on their demand to seek an amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act to consider same-gotra marriage as illegal. “The matter was discussed during the 251st martyrdom day of Maharaja Surajmal in Rohtak and a campaign has been launched across North India to create awareness about the fallout of such marriages. We have set a target of collecting 1 lakh signatures,” she said.