Why Jat’s the way

What may have also decided matters,prompting at least Jindal and Om Prakash Chautala to speak up publicly for the khaps,is the panchayat elections coming up next month. Support in rural areas would be crucial to win the polls,and it’s hardly the time to alienate the khaps. The stakes are higher this time around because both the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Congress are hoping to play a bigger hand with this win behind them.

Khaps have been known to support candidates unanimously,but even the split ones leave parties enough room for exploitation.

Comprising village leaders of the Jat community,these panchayats have been in the news recently for their stand against same gotra marriages and tacit support for action against those who defy the norms. Though the khap leaders claim they have never ordered murders,these panchayats have turned a blind eye to instances of honour killings.

However,tackling the khap panchayats is no easy task for the state Congress. The Jats,who constitute a formidable 28-30 per cent of the electorate,are in a position to make a difference in almost 40 per cent of the Assembly constituencies. Their vote swing is believed to have decided both the Congress’s thumping win in 2005,as well as the INLD’s surprise resurgence in 2010.

It is this struggle for Jat votes (or at least to not annoy them) that has seen the two main parties flexing muscle. Having nothing to lose,Chautala has plunged headlong and supported the khaps as well as their demand for amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act to bring in a clause banning intra-gotra marriages. “It was proved scientifically and medically” that such marriages were not desirable,he says,adding that they would raise the issue at all public platforms.

Hooda and his colleagues,on the other hand,have been playing it safe. Without taking a clear stand,the Chief Minister has been saying that khaps have an important role in society and the government shall not intervene in any “social issue”. Worse,despite noises against “medieval diktats” of such khaps,his government has not initiated action against panchayats which have issued patently illegal orders and has been soft on those accused in honour killings.

Tacitly,he has gone a step further,with one of his close aides,Shadi Lal Batra,MP,moving a private member’s resolution in the Rajya Sabha seeking amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act.

As for Jindal,the reason one of the Congress’s “promising” Young Turks risked possible ire of the Congress high command by backing khaps is that he was left with little choice. Khap panchayats dominate his constituency and they had announced a gherao of his house in Kaithal,demanding that he take an unambiguous stand on their call for the amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to ban same gotra marriages.

While Jindal’s supporters believe his detractors within the Congress put the khaps up to the threat,the MP decided not to take any chances and landed up at their mahapanchayat instead. He offered to take up their demands with the Centre.

“They are the constituents of my constituency and voted for me,” Jindal admitted. “At this juncture,when they need my help,how can I keep off from them? So I went there and agreed to play my role to take the controversy to a logical end. What would they think about me if I keep aloof?” While he clarified that he would not support any breaking of the law by the panchayats,the two-time MP is obviously treading on very thin ice.

“It is not a question of being personally convinced or supportive of khaps’ opinion on same gotra marriage,” Jindal says. “My personal opinion does not matter much,but their collective opinion should be heard by the right quarters.”