Khap Panchayats are NGOs, says Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today described Khap Panchayats as "NGOs" and a part of Indian culture, unfazed by his Congress party's condemnation of the village councils often accused of dispensing medieval-style justice.

"Khap Panchayat is an NGO. It's like if you go to Gurgaon there is a welfare association. Similarly Khap is also an NGO. They are a part of our culture," Mr Hooda told reporters in Chandigarh, openly contradicting his party colleague and union minister P Chidambaram.

Two days ago, Mr Chidambaram had said it was "appalling" to see anybody say that Khap Panchayats are a part of Indian culture, a direct reference to Arvind Kejriwal's comments in their support. "(There are) many forces (like Khaps) that spread poison. How can someone tell a young girl or a boy what to wear or not? People know what they are expected to do. Who is this khap panchayat to say, do this or do that?" Mr Chidambaram said at a gathering of Delhi college students.

Mr Kejriwal was criticised for saying in an interview that he saw no reason to ban these bodies, as they serve a "cultural purpose". His Aam Aadmi Party clarified later that they don't support any decision that violates law, but also defended the existence of Khaps. "All castes tend to have their social organisations that resolve disputes internally. We certainly acknowledge the right of all such organisations to exist," said the party's Yogendra Yadav.

Khap Panchayats, which are all-male unelected village bodies, are notorious for issuing extra-judicial diktats and even ordering honour killings in parts of rural India, especially in northern states, but they enjoy such political influence that local politicians rarely speak out against them, no matter what their parties say.

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