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The Print
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Politics marked by paradoxes: Anatomy of BJP's ‘Jat dilemma'
The 8 August panchayat meeting presided over by Suresh Phogat, the president of the Phogat Khap, also saw participation of representatives from the Phogat, Sangwan, Sheoran, Haveli, Satgama, Chidiya, and Satgama khaps, and farmer groups and social organisations. Terming it as an 'unimaginable insult', the khaps decided to honour Satya Pal Malik posthumously with the Bharat Samman Award given out by all North Indian khaps. New Delhi: Days after Satya Pal Malik, the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir passed away, a Sarva Khap Panchayat was held at Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, where the BJP government was criticised for not extending state honours at Malik's funeral. On the same day, the BJP expelled its Rajasthan unit spokesperson Krishna Kumar Janu, a Jat who earlier questioned the party's treatment of his community leaders. The issue has brought forth a 'Jat dilemma' within the BJP—a sort of politics marked by paradoxes like wooing the community in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan while seeking to mobilise non-Jats in Haryana. In Punjab, the Jat Sikhs have always kept a distance from the BJP. The BJP's equations with the Jats, which started blooming after then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee promised OBC reservation to the community in Rajasthan in 1999, has been fraying, of late. The party did poorly in Jat-dominated areas in Haryana and Rajasthan in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In this backdrop, ex-vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar's 'ouster' and the late Satya Pal Malik's soured relationship with the top BJP leadership now threaten to queer the pitch for the party. The party showed its Jat spokesperson the door on 8 August after Krishna Kumar Janu highlighted what he has called the 'humiliating treatment' of Satya Pal Malik and Jagdeep Dhankhar, the two foremost Jat faces, by the BJP. A video showing Janu criticising the senior leadership was widely shared online, leading to his expulsion for six years. Satya Pal Malik, who served as governor of several states and was once the BJP's national vice-president, died last week at 79 after a prolonged illness. He was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir when the Modi government invalidated Article 370 in 2019. Later, Satya Pal Malik occupied Raj Bhawans in Goa and Meghalaya before falling out with the BJP and becoming a bitter critic of the Narendra Modi-led government. Prominent BJP leaders stayed away from his funeral on 6 August. Jagdeep Dhankhar's abrupt resignation on 21 July—purportedly forced on him by the BJP leadership—has also not gone down well with the Jat community, BJP leaders say. Many viewed the appointment of Jagdeep Dhankhar as V-P as the BJP acknowledging the importance of the Jat community, even though Dhankhar was not seen as a dominant Jat leader. Now, they are reading his removal in the same vein. For years, the BJP has sought to give its Jat leaders key posts. For instance, Subhash Barala and O.P. Dhankar in Haryana, Satish Poonia in Rajasthan, Sanjeev Balyan and Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary in western Uttar Pradesh. However, the party's latest moves have reinforced a growing feeling among the Jats that the BJP is edging them out, in favour of OBC, Dalit, and upper-caste leaders, say BJP leaders. When the BJP sidelined Satya Pal Malik, the Jats opposed his removal, and the party appointed Dhankar, then the Governor of West Bengal, as the V-P to cool down the situation. Now, Jagdeep Dhankhar is out too. Tek Ram Kandela, the president of Kandela Khap in Haryana, told The Print that no love had been lost between the Haryana Khaps—or for that matter, the Jats—and Jagdeep Dhankhar when he was the VP. 'However, the way he was made to resign only shows how the BJP treats the Jats,' he said. Yudhbir Dhankhar, the president of Dhankhar Khap in Haryana, accused the BJP of scripting the exit as part of a 'political game'. 'This party (BJP) is very alienated from this community,' he said, warning that the party will feel the consequences of how it dealt with Jagdeep Dhankhar in the future. 'For us, he is our brother from our 'gotra'. His resignation has sparked outrage among all khaps and members of the Jat community. When the party elevated him to the post of V-P, he should have been allowed to continue for a full term. Now, social media is buzzing with news, such as the sealing of his office. All this is not going down well with the community,' the khap leader said. Roughly 2.5 percent of the national population, the Jats comprise a sizeable voter base. Moreover, the political clout of the community in UP, Rajasthan, and Haryana remains outsized and alienating it is risky. Janu's expulsion for speaking up for two of their most recognisable leaders has rekindled a debate within the BJP around its 'Jat dilemma', which leaders say is not likely to be resolved soon. Jyoti Mishra, assistant professor of political science at Amity University, Mohali, and former researcher at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), told The Print that the reason why the Jat community in Haryana has been distancing from the party is much deeper than just resentment over Jagdeep Dhankhar's exit. 'The Jat community's estrangement stems from an apparent loss of political control over the state under the BJP, where symbolic gestures like Jagdeep Dhankhar's exit as the V-P only reinforce their narrative of sidelining by a party that once courted their votes but now prioritises non-Jat interests,' said Mishra. Also Read: 'Modi finished Army with Agniveer scheme, will end farming too' — Satya Pal Malik in Q&A with Rahul Larger flashpoints in Haryana The Jat discontent has roots in larger flashpoints. The community, with its deep agricultural link and influence in villages, did not respond well to the Centre's handling of the 2020-21 farmers' agitation, and the Agnipath recruitment plan introduced in June 2022. The BJP later rolled back the farm laws, but party insiders concede the damage had already been done and compounded by the lack of a single unifying Jat face in the BJP at the time. Modi 3.0 now has only two Jat leaders as ministers of state. BJP's Ajmer MP Bhagirath Choudhary is MoS of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary is MoS of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The dip in central representation is a cause of concern for the community. The Modi 2.0 cabinet in 2019 also had only two Jats in MoS posts—Balyan Choudhary and Kailash Choudhary from Rajasthan. ThePrint earlier reported how the 2019 cabinet, and the present one stands in sharp contrast to Vajpayee's cabinet from 1999 to 2004, with Rashtriya Lok Dal's Ajit Singh and BJP's Sahib Singh Verma as ministers, Vasundhara Raje Scindia, who married into a Jat family, as MoS, and RLD leader Sompal Singh Shastri also in the council of ministers in 1998. The situation has changed drastically over time, and what is amply evident now is the Jat community's declining grip on Haryana, Rajasthan, and UP since 2014. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Uttar Pradesh BJP entered an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal, considering the Jat voters of western UP. However, several BJP leaders feel the party should, instead, strengthen its Jat leaders to ensure it will not have to rely on others. They cite the example of BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan, who defeated the RLD president Chaudhary Ajit Singh from the Muzaffarnagar Lok Sabha constituency in 2019. Haryana is a state where the relative number of Jats is 22–27 percent of the state population. In the past, it had ensured their political predominance. However, the BJP has, since 2014, put in place a deliberate policy of non-Jat consolidation, incrementally whittling away Jat representation, marginalising a community that long defined Haryana's agrarian and political identities. Ahead of the 2024 polls, the BJP even replaced O.P. Dhankar with OBC leader Nayab Saini as the Haryana BJP president. Haryana's election to its 90-member legislative assembly has always seen a battle of caste-based manoeuvres from before the BJP's ascendence to power in 2014. The party's surge that year, riding the 'Modi wave', however, represented a conscious shift away from Jat politics. Contesting Haryana's 90 assembly constituencies, the BJP gave tickets to 24 Jats only. Six of them won and became MLAs, at a 24-25 percent success rate. The Jat reservation agitation in 2016, when the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP regime was in power in Haryana, was a turning point in the relationship the community shared with the party. The protests turned violent, resulting in the death of 30 people, besides losses in public and private properties. The Haryana government's heavy-handed response that followed deepened the already existing sense of alienation among the Jats in the backdrop of their diminishing cabinet representation. Responding to the Jat agitation, the Haryana government deployed the Army and opened fire on protesters, fuelling resentment among the Jats. The controversial stance of BJP Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini, who opposed Jat reservations, further aggravated tensions. The divide between the BJP and the Jat community increased further when the reservation bill, earlier promised by the party, faced legal hurdles, leaving the Jats feeling betrayed. Earlier, Satya Pal Malik's critical remarks targeting Jagdeep Dhankhar, 'Tooti khat, aur jhhuka hua Jat kisi kaam ka nahi hota (A broken cot and a bent Jat are of no use),' resonated quite well with the Jats in Haryana. Afterwards, the removal of Jagdeep Dhankhar became a rallying point, heightening the grievances the Jats had against the BJP. In the 2019 state elections, the BJP doubled down on its non-Jat strategy, decreasing its Jat candidates to 19. Only four won and became MLAs, achieving a 21 per cent success rate. Of them, the BJP named Jai Parkash Dalal as a Modi cabinet minister, besides inducting Kamlesh Dhanda as an MoS in the Manohar Lal Khattar cabinet. The state cabinet had two more Jat ministers, Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala from the JJP, the party then in a coalition with the BJP, and Ranjit Singh, who was among the six Independents, all of whom supported the BJP-JJP government. The first Nayab Singh Saini cabinet, once he replaced Khattar in March 2024, maintained the same strength—one Jat cabinet minister and one MoS—though Mahipal Dhanda became MoS and Kamlesh Dhanda was removed from the MoS post. The number of Jat Ministers further reduced from four to three after the BJP broke its alliance with the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP. Coming ahead of the 2024 general elections, the installation of OBC CM Nayab Singh Saini put a stamp on the resolve of the BJP towards OBC consolidation, with the party placing a premium on the community that constitutes roughly 30 percent of the national population, as well as the upper castes, over the Jats. The BJP strengthened this strategy during the 2024 state polls by fielding only 16 Jat candidates. At a 38 percent success rate, six of them won and became MLAs. In the current 14-member Saini-led Haryana cabinet, there are two Jat ministers, Mahipal Dhanda and Shruti Choudhry. Even before Saini became the CM, the BJP had made him party president, removing Jat leader Om Prakash Dhankar. From then on, Jat discontent had been simmering, with unresolved grievances from the 2023 wrestler protests against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the farmer protests and Agnipath fuelling their sentiment. In the rural belt, including Rohtak and Jind, Jat farmers interpreted all the incidents as proof of the BJP ignoring their agricultural interests. The BJP in Haryana was previously considered a party of traders and urban voters, with only a few Jat leaders in its cadre. At the time, leaders such as O.P. Dhankar and Subhash Barala formed the cadre, and they maintained a long association with the party's Kisan Morcha. During the Ram Mandir movement in the early 1990s, Captain Abhimanyu joined the party ranks. Jat leader Ram Chander Baina won the Lok Sabha election from Faridabad on a BJP ticket in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Jat leader Kishan Singh Sangwan won the 1998 Lok Sabha election from the Sonipat seat on an Indian National Lok Dal ticket, with INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala 'lending' him to the BJP in 1999, when the seat went to the BJP quota. Kishan Singh Sangwan stayed on with the BJP and won the seat as its candidate in 2004. However, at 64, he died in December 2012. At 72, Ramchandra Bainda, a former BJP MP from Faridabad, passed away in 2018. The distance between the Jats and the BJP in Haryana started to show in the early years of the Modi regime in the state as the Jat reservation agitation intensified. The BJP, however, attracted several Jat leaders ahead of the 2024 state assembly polls, including Kiran Choudhry and late Satpal Sangwan's son, Sunil Sangwan, who won from Charkhi Dadri. Also Read: It was my turn. You overtook me: Wife Iqbal Malik to Satya Pal Malik The situation in Punjab, Rajasthan & UP In Punjab, the BJP has brought some prominent Jat leaders into its fold under a calculated outreach to counter its image of an 'urban' and Hindu-centric party. Prominent among them are Sunil Jakhar who left the Congress to join the BJP, Jat Sikhs Ravneet Bittu, Parneet Kaur, and Taranjit Singh Sandhu. These moves have been viewed as efforts that may resonate with the agrarian Jat community in Punjab. However, scars of the 2020-21 farmers protest when Jat Sikh farmers were labelled as 'Khalistanis' by those considered close to the BJP. The story is no different in Rajasthan. Many community leaders ThePrint spoke to feel they have been 'sidelined', especially since the 2023 assembly elections. The Jat community, a key vote bank in Rajasthan, is known to impact at least 50 of 200 assembly seats. Soon after Dhankar's exit, the Opposition seized the opportunity, with Congress leaders pointing out how the BJP has been systematically sidelining the Jats. Govind Dotasra, the president of the Congress Rajasthan unit, who belongs to the community, pointed out that since Dhankar's resignation, there has been no prominent Jat leader from Rajasthan in any top constitutional or organisational post. In the current Rajasthan cabinet, there are two Jat ministers, Kanhaiyalal Choudhary and Sumit Godara, and Jat leaders Jhabar Singh Kharra and Vijay Singh Chaudhary are ministers of state. 'As far as the party is concerned, it has given leaders at different levels positions, including vice-president and general secretary, but many see it as mere tokenism. Jyoti Mirdha is the state vice-president of the party, and Santosh Ahlawat is the general secretary,' said a senior BJP leader who pointed out the issue at hand is that currently, leaders belonging to the Jat community do not hold key posts. In Rajasthan, the BJP suffered defeats in Jat-dominated seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. 'After Dhankar's exit, we have no significant Jat leader who can unite the entire Jat community. With the national BJP president yet to be elected, new appointments will take place. Many hope that Satish Poonia from Rajasthan will get a national role. Similarly, at the state level, the party will constitute a new team as it is likely to induct more faces and give them charge,' said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP's tally dropped to 33 Lok Sabha seats in 2024 from 62 in 2019, as the party lost Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, and Bijnor—all seats with a sizeable Jat population. BJP hopes to address the issue by inducting more leaders from the Jat community at the organisational level. Many Jat leaders have blamed community members—farmers and wrestlers in particular—for the BJP government's alleged indifferent treatment of the community, ticking off the Jats further. Speaking to ThePrint, BJP Rajasthan spokesperson Laxmikant Bhardwaj said the Congress, seizing the opportunity, has been trying to mislead the public, even though the BJP has given due representation to the Jat community in the government as well as at organisational levels. 'If you talk about the government, in the cabinet itself, there is over 15 percent representation. Similarly, from the district level to the state level, at least 20% leaders belong to the Jat community. The BJP has always respected the community and has fielded many leaders from the community in the assembly as well as Lok Sabha elections,' he said. Former CM of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje, who married into a Jat family, has, of late, been credited with bringing new Jat leaders to the BJP fold. However, the BJP's Rahul Kaswan, who, along with his father Ram Singh Kaswan, won the Churu Lok Sabha seat five times, crossed over to the Congress and won ahead of the 2024 LS polls. The BJP's Jat leaders in Uttar Pradesh include Bhupendra Chaudhary and Sanjeev Balyan. Many BJP leaders use the example of Rahul Kaswan, who defected to the Congress before the 2024 general elections, to highlight how the party did not institute a second rung of Jat leadership in the state, which may prove to be an issue in reaching out to the community in future. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: 'I'm neither one to fear nor one to bow down'—Satya Pal Malik, one of Modi govt's fiercest critics
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Khaps to confer ‘Bharat Samman' on ex-governor Satyapal Malik
1 2 Rohtak: The Sarv Khap expressed strong displeasure over the absence of state honours at the funeral of former governor Satyapal Malik, calling it an 'unimaginable insult' and sharply criticising the BJP-led government. In a meeting held at Jat Dharamshala in Charkhi Dadri on Tuesday, chaired by Phogat Khap head Suresh Phogat, it was unanimously decided that khap panchayats across north India will jointly confer the 'Bharat Samman' on the late leader. The gathering saw participation from representatives of Phogat, Sangwan, Sheoran, Haveli, Athgama, Chidia, and Satgama Khaps, along with farmer groups and social organisations. The meeting began around 1 pm and lasted for two hours. Attendees paid floral tributes to a portrait of Malik and recalled his contributions as a politician and social reformer. Khap leaders highlighted Malik's work for farmers, sportspersons, and public welfare. Suresh Phogat noted that Malik had served as MP, MLA, minister, and governor of multiple states. "Despite such distinguished service, the government denied him state honours. The Khaps of North India will unite to bestow the Bharat Samman on him and will fight to ensure he receives due recognition," he said. The khaps also resolved to approach all political parties with a demand to frame clear rules mandating state honours for individuals who have held high public office. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan's visit sparks anger on Vinesh Phogat home turf
Sat Singh | tnn Rohtak: Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP functionary from Uttar Pradesh, , visited Charkhi Dadri -- the home district of Olympian wrestler -- on Sunday, sparking anger and controversy, particularly among local khap panchayats. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Brij Bhushan arrived in Dadri's Baund Kalan village amid heavy security on the invitation of Rajput Sabha to felicitate wrestler Rachna Parmar, who recently won gold at the U-17 Asian Championship in Vietnam. BJP leader and Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt was also honoured at the event. Brij Bhushan said that India has yet to win a gold medal in wrestling at the Olympics and proposed that Dutt be entrusted with this responsibility. Before Brij Bhushan arrived, local BJP MP Chaudhary Dharambir from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh constituency and Dadri MLA Sunil Sangwan attended the event briefly. However, both leaders left before Brij Bhushan's arrival, citing time constraints. Several khap panchayats opposed his visit. Phogat Khap, which has been vocal in supporting Vinesh Phogat since the wrestlers' protest against Brij Bhushan, condemned his presence in Dadri. Phogat Khap secretary Kuldeep Phogat, BKU (Youth) state president Ravi Azad and Krishna Phogat said Rachna Parmar made the country proud and should be celebrated "but inviting someone like Brij Bhushan, who is accused of disrespecting women wrestlers, sends a highly negative message to society". Nehra Khap from Rohtak also objected to Brij Bhushan's participation. Its Youth national president, Sandeep Nehra, said: "Brij Bhushan's presence in Dadri is inappropriate. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He has insulted Vinesh Phogat and other female wrestlers. His participation hurts the sentiments of the local people." In response to the backlash, Rajput Sabha's Charkhi Dadri district in charge Pawan Sanjarwasiya defended the event, saying: "The programme is meant to honour a farmer's daughter who has brought pride to the nation. Only a few self-proclaimed leaders and disruptive elements are opposing the event. The Panwar Batisi Khap is fully ready to welcome Brij Bhushan." He warned that any attempts to disrupt the event would be dealt with strictly. This event has deepened the divide between khap leadership and BJP's local and central figures, especially in light of the ongoing concerns over the treatment of women athletes. Vinesh Phogat and several other wrestlers previously led protests demanding action against Brij Bhushan over allegations of misconduct. MSID:: 122279144 413 |
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Khaps, farmer unions to protest Brij Bhushan's visit at wrestler's felicitation
Representatives of various Khap panchayats and farmer organisations have announced that they will show black flags to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), during his visit to Bond Kalan village on Sunday. Singh is expected to attend a felicitation ceremony honouring Asian gold medallist wrestler Rachna Parmar. Phogat Khap's acting president, Krishan Phogat, objected strongly, stating, 'Brij Bhushan's name has come up in a sexual harassment case that is currently under judicial consideration. Such individuals should not be welcomed at social gatherings.' (HT File) Parmar recently won a gold medal at the Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championship held in Vietnam. The event's organisers had extended invitations to Bhiwani-Mahendergarh MP Dharambir Singh, Dadri BJP MLA Suneel Sangwan, and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to participate in the celebration. However, opposition to Singh's presence has been mounting. Phogat Khap's acting president, Krishan Phogat, objected strongly, stating, 'Brij Bhushan's name has come up in a sexual harassment case that is currently under judicial consideration. Such individuals should not be welcomed at social gatherings.' He also accused Singh of targeting former wrestler Vinesh Phogat. 'He ran a smear campaign against our daughter, Vinesh. His presence only seeks to divide the community. The BJP MLA and MP should refrain from attending if they support him,' he said. Echoing similar concerns, Athgama Khap chief Ranbir Singh said the organisers should reflect on their decision to invite Singh to the event. On the other hand, Pawan Kumar, media coordinator of the Charkhi Dadri Rajput Mahasabha, criticised the protest calls. He said, 'Some self-styled leaders are trying to politicise the visit. Rachna Parmar, like many others, belongs to the farming community, and there is no widespread resentment in the area.' Tensions remain high ahead of the ceremony, with both sides standing firm on their views regarding Brij Bhushan's participation.
The Print
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Khap Panchayats rally for legal sanctity after HC's suo motu push. ‘We're backbone of rural justice'
The high court bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, initiated the PIL on 1 July, 2025, to address the non-implementation of Chapter X of the Mediation Act, 2023, particularly Sections 43 and 44, which provide for community mediation to resolve interpersonal disputes such as those between neighbours, families, and communities. The meetings are spurred by the Punjab and Haryana High Court's suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking responses from the Centre, the governments of Punjab and Haryana, and the Chandigarh administration on integrating traditional institutions like Khap Panchayats into the legal framework for community mediation under the Mediation Act, 2023. Gurugram: In a significant development in Haryana, several Khap Panchayats across the state have convened urgent meetings in districts like Rohtak, Jind, and Hisar over the past week, where their leaders have sought to secure legal sanctity for their decisions. During the proceedings, Chief Justice Nagu emphasised the potential of community mediation, stating, 'Community mediation holds significant potential for resolving interpersonal disputes, such as those between neighbours, families, and communities. Despite being highly effective in delivering inexpensive and speedy resolution of disputes at the grassroots level, community mediation has not been enforced so far.' The court suggested that formalising Khaps' role under the Mediation Act could transform them into effective mediators, provided their practices align with constitutional norms. The Bench noted that, 'The Khap Panchayats in the rural Haryana exercise significant social influence within the community they represent and exercise a form of social governance in their respective areas.' The court directed the states, Union Territory, and the Centre to file their responses by 5 August 5, when the matter is next scheduled for hearing. Also read: After success in metros, SC panel & NALSA working on module to train community mediators in villages Demand for legal sanctity The high court's initiative has galvanised Khap Panchayats, with leaders viewing it as a historic opportunity to formalise their dispute resolution mechanisms. In Rohtak, the Phogat Khap held a large gathering on Wednesday, where leaders unanimously demanded legal recognition for their decisions. Kitab Singh, a senior leader of the Phogat Khap, told The Print, 'Giving legal responsibility to Khap Panchayats is a commendable step. Our decisions are rooted in community consensus and aim to maintain harmony. Legal recognition will strengthen our ability to resolve disputes peacefully and swiftly.' He highlighted Khaps' historical role in resolving disputes over land, marriage, and social conflicts, often preventing escalation to formal courts. In Jind, the Kandela Khap convened a meeting on Thursday. The Kandela Khap chief, Tek Ram Kandela, told ThePrint Friday, 'For centuries, Khap Panchayats have been the backbone of rural justice, settling disputes with fairness and community welfare in mind. The high court's move is a chance to formalise our role, ensuring our decisions carry legal weight while respecting constitutional values.' In Hisar, the Satrol Khap echoed similar sentiments, with its chairman Satish Chander noting while speaking to ThePrint, 'We welcome the court's initiative. Our mediation practices are community-driven, and with legal backing, we can bridge the gap between traditional and modern justice systems.' He said that during its meeting the Khap has also called for clear guidelines to ensure Khap decisions align with constitutional principles, particularly on issues like gender equality and fundamental rights. The high court's PIL has sparked a debate on integrating traditional institutions into India's legal framework. The move raises concerns about aligning traditional authority with constitutional norms. P.K. Sandhir, a noted criminal lawyer from Haryana, said Khap Panchayat is a very loosely defined term in Haryana and hence it would become difficult to say which panchayat is Khap and which is not. 'There are Khaps representing a particular caste. Also, there are Khaps representing a group of villages. We have often seen in disputes where couples have married of their will against the families, the Khap from where the girl belongs comes out with one edict while the one from where the boy belongs has an altogether different decision,' he told ThePrint. He further said that giving legal sanctity to the Khap Panchayats would also amount to usurping the powers of the legislature. 'When the legislature has passed the Mediation Act, 2023, and included a chapter on community mediation, they must have had something in mind on what they meant for the community in the Act. Let the government come with the rules and say what did the legislature meant by community mediation. Even if they meant including Khaps, the question is whether the legislature would like to give this task entirely to the Khap Panchayats or just include one or some members in the community mediation set-ups,' Sandhir said. Ramesh Dalal, president of the Dalal Khap, however, said that medition was the basic role of the Khap Panchayats for ages and they should be given legal sanctity. 'Khap Panchayats have been unduly demonised as Talibani bodies by Haryana in certain controversial cases, particularly of honour killings, without going into the details. The fact of the matter is that Khaps give decisions based on consensus,' Dalal said. Controversial legacy of Khap Panchayats While Khap leaders advocate for legal recognition, their past decisions have often drawn criticism for clashing with constitutional values. Khap Panchayats have been associated with controversial rulings, including demands for bans on live-in relationships, opposition to inter-caste and same-gotra (clan) marriages, and enforcing social boycotts against individuals or families deemed to have violated community norms. In March this year, the Banian Khap that met at Danoda village of Haryana had given a call for social boycott of 'live-in' couples in the presence of a minister Krishan Bedi. In another instance, the Sangwan Khap led by Independent MLA Sombir Sangwan had ordered 'Hukka-Paani Band' (ostracisation) of nine families in Charkhi village of Haryana in July 2023 for 'disobeying' the Panchayat's edict of not sowing paddy in the village. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Khap calls for 'social boycott, ban' on live-in relationships in Haryana minister's presence
