Caught in the so-called compulsion of votebank politics, both the two major political parties — Congress and BJP — on Tuesday preferred to tread cautiously on khap panchayats by lobbing the ball in the government’s court.
When asked by reporters about party’s stand on the subject including recent spree in the “honour killing” incidents, AICC spokesperson Manish Tiwari said, the party has asked the government to take “stringent action” against those, who are taking law in their hands. “I have personally raised the issue in the Lok Sabha and asked the government to make stringent law to deal with the menace. I personally met the home minister and urged him to take action,” he said.
Mr Tiwari, however, tried to dodge a direct question on whether party support or oppose the khap panchayat’s ruling on same gotra marriages.
“Any social organisation may take up issue. So long they pursue their cause in a constitutional and democratic manner, they can be considered. But we reject any move by anyone, which is unlawful and undemocratic.”
The BJP too appeared cautious in commenting on khap panchayat’s rulings. The party, however, vehemently criticised “honour killing”.
The saffron party refused to react on what action should be taken against such panchayats, who issue diktat to kill couples, who, either marry out of caste or within the same gotra.
Senior BJP leader and national spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain, while reacting to recent spurt in cases of “honour killings”, said his party is firmly against such “gruesome killings” in the name of saving family honour. But when asked whether his party favours strict punishment against khaps, he remained silent.