Khaps to protest Law Minister’s unsavoury remarks in LS

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jind, December 13

Khaps from Haryana, UP and Rajasthan will start an agitation in Delhi if Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda does not withdraw his remarks, terming them as illegal and unconstitutional during the question hour in the Lok Sabha two days ago.

“We will not tolerate such insulting remarks us. Gowda does not know the facts and he should have first verified the details of khaps before speaking against us in the house. He must withdraw his remarks and if he does not do so, the PM must sack him immediately,” said the convener of the Sarv Khap Panchayat (SKP), Kuldeep Dhanda, after a state level meeting of khaps in the Jat Dharmshala here today.

In case both these options were not exercised, they would call a mahapanchayat in New Delhi and start an indefinite agitation in February.

“Since 600 khaps from Rajasthan, UP and Haryana will participate in the mahapanchayat, we need time to coordinate with all of them. The government would be responsible for any untoward incident following that,” Dhanda warned.

Leaders of the Kandela, Chahal, Satrol, Dhull, Rakhi Barah, Jaatu and many other khaps participated. Those present demanded immediate dismissal of the minister and asked PM Narendera Modi, who had in October praised the khaps in Jind during a rally, to talk to the minister in this context.

The leaders have formed special teams to coordinate with the khaps of other states and make the required arrangements in case the government does not heed their warning.

“We do not want to give an impression that we are in hurry to start the protest. Hence, we have given enough time to the government to do the needful. We also need some time to prepare for such a big agitation,” said Tek Ram Kandela, president of the Kandela Khap and national convener of Sarv Khap Panchayat (SKP), Haryana.

Women khap leader flays Gowda 

Kurukshetra: Santosh Dahiya, president of Sarv Jat Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat's women’s wing, criticised Law Minister Sadananda Gowda for his remarks against the khaps and said that he should withdraw them. “I am sure that the minister doesn’t know the difference between panchayats and khap panchayats. I fail to understand his statement when khaps have played an important role in keeping Indian and Haryanvi traditions alive. PM Narendra Modi and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar too have praised khaps,” she added. — TNS

‘Minister must withdraw his remark’

}Khaps will not tolerate insulting remarks. Gowda does not know the facts. He should have first verified the details of khaps before speaking against us in the House. He must withdraw his remarks and if he does not do so, the PM must sack him immediately. -Kuldeep Dhanda, convener, sarv khap panchayat