Rohtak: Among the endless stream of visitors at Olympic winner Sakshi Malik's bungalow in the city's Sector 4, there was one gent who perhaps personified the Haryana stereotype - out of place with everything else in the house.
Khap leaders have always made news for their diktats against jeans and cellphones for girls, same gotra marriages and handing out punishments like social boycott.
But Captain Jasbir Malik had come to convey a message from the Malik khap community to the 23-year-old - who won a bronze at Rio, opening India's medal tally this Olympics.
"Sakshi is from our khap, so we want to just give our good wishes," said Captain Malik, a smiling senior citizen.
When NDTV asked him what he thought of Sakshi's wrestling outfit, he said, "The media gives us a bad name. We understand the changing times".
Would he have a problem with jeans as is often reported in comments from Khap leaders? "Jeans is ok. We understand people are becoming modern, but they should be decent as parents like it".
He said khaps -- linked to several honour killings in Haryana -- are only against 3 Gs: Marriage within same gotra, gaon (village) and nearby gaons. "That's because it leads to inbreeding," he added.
As the khap leader was speaking, Sudesh Malik, Sakshi's mother, went about greeting visitors and journalists who would ask what made Sakshi wrestle.
Her reply: "She wanted to and she could".
Khap leaders have always made news for their diktats against jeans and cellphones for girls, same gotra marriages and handing out punishments like social boycott.
But Captain Jasbir Malik had come to convey a message from the Malik khap community to the 23-year-old - who won a bronze at Rio, opening India's medal tally this Olympics.
When NDTV asked him what he thought of Sakshi's wrestling outfit, he said, "The media gives us a bad name. We understand the changing times".
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As the khap leader was speaking, Sudesh Malik, Sakshi's mother, went about greeting visitors and journalists who would ask what made Sakshi wrestle.
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