With Rajya Sabha nominee Lt Gen Vats, BJP tries to woo Jats

Vishal Joshi

Advertisement

Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, March 12

The candidature of Lt Gen DP Vats (retd) for the Rajya Sabha from Haryana is seen as another measure by the ruling BJP government to placate the Jat community.

Vats, who had served in the Jat regiment for five years, was closely engaged in the courts while defending khap panchayats.

In February 2013, Vats had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, explaining why khaps opposed same-gotra and same-village marriages.

He had also argued that khaps were never votaries of honour killings.

While defending the khaps in the apex court, Vats had reportedly stated that the community councils were misunderstood.

Tekram Kandela, the national convener of Sarvjatiya Sarv Khap Panchayats, told The Tribune that Vats was instrumental in pursuing the legal battles for the khaps.

Vats was actively involved in women empowerment events organised by khap panchayats of the significant Kandela khap and other community councils, he added.

Kandela said the BJP’s political move was welcomed by the rural population.

“Vats is the son of the soil who understands the social customs and traditions of the rural Haryana. Sarvjatiya Sarv Khap had engaged him as a legal adviser after he volunteered to defend khaps before various legal platforms,” he said.

Kandela said Vats was also closely associated with khaps on the women empowerment, including against female foeticide and honour killing.

“Sarvjatiya Sarv Khap Panchayat welcomes the decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of selecting a person like Vats. Parliament should have more such representatives who value the social customs with a progressive mindset,” said the khap leader from Jind.

Meanwhile, political analysts said Vats, a Brahmin, was also recognised for working with khaps.

An expert said that at the recent Yuva Hunkar Rally in the Jat heartland of Jind, BJP president Amit Shah had tried to shed the political perception that the saffron party was against Jats on the reservation issue.

“Shah had lauded Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar for his contribution to farmers’ welfare, and state BJP chief Subhash Barala for strengthening the party. He congratulated BJP leaders for organising a rally in Jind, the home turf of Union Steel Minister Birender Singh. Besides Chief Minister ML Khattar, Shah had publicly lauded only Dhankar, Barala and Birender, all Jat leaders,” said a political watcher.