FROM enforcing honour killings to forcing the Union government to amend the Hindu Marriage Act, the Khap Mahapanchayat of Haryana has been literally trying to force its Taliban-type justice. Khap panchayats have meted out cruel judgements on young couples marrying within their ‘gotra’ or lineage.

Though their rulings have no legal validity, politicians have been too scared to join issue with them. The Khap panchayats may be socially powerful, but that does not mean that they should be allowed to challenge the basic preamble of the Indian constitution and dictate terms to the federal government. Their demand to amend the Hindu Marriage Act for banning marriages within the same ‘gotra’ or face direct action smacks of a deep design. There is a clear sign that the Khap leaders have been running a parallel government which is opposed to the basic concept of the Indian Union. The Khap panchayats’ call for changes to the law of the land came after a Karnal court recently sentenced five people to death and awarded life sentences to two others, including a Khap leader, in connection with the ‘honour killing’ of a couple who belonged to the same lineage. Their style of functioning makes it abundantly clear that the Khap leaders still survive in the medieval period and are untouched by the social changes taking place around. Else, there was no reason why they should continue to beat the bush. If the Khap leaders are so concerned over the welfare of their caste men why are they not opposing female foeticide which has been quite rampant? It is pathetic to watch young Congress leaders like Mr Naveen Jindal, a part of the Congress youth brigade, succumbing to the Khap threat. Mr Jindal should realise that India is no more in Medieval or Stone Age times. We are in the 21st century. The identity and image of India has changed along with its transformation. We cannot think of India going back to the days when tribal and clannish beliefs were the norm. The government of India should take a tough stand and see that the Taliban-type kangaroo courts in the name of Khap panchayats do not inflict damage to our reforming society on the plea of preserving society’s traditions, customs, beliefs and culture.