Khap panchayats’ opinion supreme, says Chautala

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9

On the unity efforts between the INLD and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), former CM Om Prakash Chautala said today that to him, the guiding principle of public life was the opinion of khap panchayats.

He issued a statement after JJP leader Dushyant Chautala held a press conference in Chandigarh, where he left the final decision on family unity to his father Ajay Singh Chautala.

Former CM said he had already made it very clear that any decision regarding unity within the Chautala family and the INLD and its breakaway faction taken by the panchayats would be acceptable to him.

“Earlier, Dushyant Chautala had said that as far as family matters were concerned, any decision taken by Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala and Sardar Parkash Singh Badal would be acceptable. But as far as the political dispute was concerned, the decision will be taken in consultation with its alliance partner,” said an INLD statement.

Chautala further said that submitting to the will and directions of the panchayats had been a family tradition and even Devi Lal had bowed before their decisions.

“As far as I am concerned, I have always followed in the footsteps of Chaudhary Devi Lal and hence, the decision of the panchayats is above any other decision and I would abide by it,” said the statement.