Khaps Again, Ban on Same Gotra Marriage
NAVIN Jindal , the Congress MP from Kurukhetra , under political compulsion (as the Khaps had threatened siege if he did not respond to their demands before May 10) has reignited the controversy about intra - gotra marriage. Khaps are demanding an amendment to Hindu Marriage Act to include prohibition of marriage within gotra . Mr. Jindal , in the three debates on different channels of NDTV on May 10 was not forthcoming on all the questions asked by the panelists : Does he agree with Khaps ' decisions? What is the relevance of Khaps in the democracy? Why it took him so long to take up the issue? Why is he supporting the illegal Khaps ? etc. etc. Meanwhile Mr Chautala , the supremo of INLD too has joined in his support. Yet, nobody is interested in the real issue, though every panelist responded swearing by genetics and/or society. VARIOUS samrities and samhitas , for example, Manu Samhita , have prohibited intra - gotra marriages, something that lends credibility to Kha