Khaps’ support to Malik gains momentum in Haryana, meeting in Delhi on April 22

Om Prakash Dhankar, a leader of Dhankar khap, said that as of now they have made arrangements for 400 leaders and members of khap panchayats – social bodies mainly formed on the basis of ‘gotras’ and groups of nearby villages.

Apart from Haryana, according to Dhankar, the khap leaders from other north Indian states are also expected to take part in the Delhi meeting which will be held at RK Puram.

Dhankar says: “In the meeting, we will demand for a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry to probe the issues raised by Satya Pal Malik over the Pulwama attack. Also, the security cover to the former governor should be enhanced to ensure his protection. After the meeting, we will send a memorandum to the President and Chief Justice of India.”

Dharam Singh, general secretary, Meham Chaubisi Sarvkhap, said that their khap will actively participate in the Delhi meeting, while a farmer leader from Jind Azad Singh Palwa said that farmers will also attend the event.

A few days ago, Satya Pal Malik had claimed that after the February 14, 2019, Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to stay silent on some alleged lapses he flagged.

Expressing solidarity with Malik, senior farmer leader from Punjab Balbir Singh Rajewal – who had formed a political outfit Sanyukt Samaj Morcha to contest 2022 assembly polls of the state – had tweeted on Sunday: “Satya pal Malik bravely exposed pulwama. Farmers are his shield. He must carry-on. All Farmers organizations are with him.”

Satya Pal Malik had stood with the agitating farmers who had launched a year-long agitation against three contentious central farm laws, which now stand repealed.