http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/editorials/hooda%E2%80%99s-shot-in-the-arm-for-khaps/179395.html
Hooda’s shot in the arm for khaps The New Indian Express First Published : 07 Jun 2010 11:55:00 PM ISTLast Updated : 07 Jun 2010 01:44:04 AM IST After Congress MP Naveen Jindal’s approving wink at the khap panchayats for their regressive outlook, if not their violence, it is now the Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s turn to voice the same outmoded views. Comparing these caste-based panchayats, which have no legal sanction, with the NGOs, Hooda said that if such organisations perform “good work, it earns appreciation”. Notwithstanding the caveat against violating the law, the chief minister’s cautious praise will, first, embolden these outfits to continue with their ‘good work’ of opposing same gotra marriages and intimidating the young men and women who dare to defy these local traditions. And, secondly, ensure that the police will not be too eager to pursue any instances of the harassment of couples. Such official and political endorsement of obscurantist conventions can encourage ‘honour’ killings as well, whose numbers are rising with distressing frequency. While the bigotry of the khap panchayats is currently confined mainly to Haryana because of the dominance of the Jats in the state, the scourge of ‘honour’ killings for marrying outside the caste has become a feature of other states in the Hindi heartland. It is not difficult to understand why Hooda has chosen to take a step backwards into medieval darkness. He has been on the defensive after his gamble of calling for early elections in Haryana backfired with Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal recovering much of its lost ground. More recently, an attack on a Dalit family in Mirchpur, in which a local khap panchayat was allegedly involved, earned the Hooda government a bad name. Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Dalit home also put the chief minister in an embarrassing position. He has also faced the Supreme Court’s ire in this context. Given these setbacks, Hooda’s need to fall back on the Jats, who constitute his political as well as personal gotra, was perhaps unavoidable. He cannot afford to alienate them by criticising the khap panchayats lest they should turn in droves to Chautala’s party. The Congress, of course, will again have to bank on its expertise in walking a tight rope in such delicate matters where retrogressive local political compulsions have to be balanced against the party’s claims of liberalism. The party could largely ignore Jindal’s comments because he is a relatively small fry. But Hooda’s support for what are undoubtedly illegal entities poses a bigger problem. Topics: ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
