Congress demands action against Khap panchayats

NEW DELHI - The Congress Wednesday came down heavily on Khap panchayats (caste councils), following cases of honour killing in and around the national capital, saying “whoever is responsible, action should be taken”.

“We believe that a holistic view should be taken. In any event, this murder and violence cannot be condoned by any civilised society and must be put down with a firm hand,” party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters here.

The party, without naming the khap panchayats, said the extra constitutional authority, that initiated “murder and violence”, should face the law of the land.

“Whoever is responsible, action should be taken,” she said.

Tha ruling party’s reaction came in the wake of reports of honour killings in the national capital.

A 19-year-old girl and her boyfriend were tortured to death by the girl’s uncle and father in north Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar area June 14.

On Monday, a man and woman who were married four years ago against the wishes of the girl’s parents were found murdered in north Delhi’s Ashok Vihar amid speculation that it might be a honour killing.

Several honour killing cases were recently reported from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as well.

The Congress also said it has not taken “any view on the demand (by the Khaps) for changes in the Hindu Marriage Act.”