Amend Hindu Marriage Act or face stir: Khaps

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, December 24

The khaps of North India have decided to launch a concerted struggle for suitable amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act to ban same gotra marriages. They have warned the government that if their demand is not met within three months they will take to the streets.

This was announced by Sarvkhap Panchayat coordinator and Dhankhar Khap head Om Prakash Dhankhar, Rohtak 84 Khap head Hardeep Singh Ahlawat and Rashtriya Jat Ekta Manch state president Rajbir Rajyan at a press conference here today. Further course of action would be chalked out at a meeting of all khap panchayats at Rohtak on December 26.

Their major demands are banning same-gotra marriages, marriages within blood and within the same village and neighbouring villages. Khap representatives will submit a memorandum to the Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh in this regard.

They will also launch a signature campaign to collect 5 lakh signatures in support of their demands.