NCW slams khap panchayats for imposing customs on young couples

family members,relatives and friends. The young couple were killed by Nidhi’s family because they both belonged to same gotra and the same village.

While speaking to mediapersons after visiting Dharmender’s family,Shafiq said: “They told me that they have decided not to pursue this case legally,as they fear a social boycott. We will try to speak with women who are not related to this case.”

“A kind of above the law social structure has been created and people are punishing people by killing them. This needs to be strongly condemned. It is the responsibility of the police that such an incident is not repeated in Haryana,” she added.

Slamming khap panchayats justifying honour killings on the plea of seeking an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act,Shafiq said: “They want to say that an amendment in law will stop such murders? Does this mean that you are trying to scare us that if you marry in the same gotra,we will continue to kill people? This is no justification. When and what kind of amendment will be done in the law,this is a legal issue…”

“But if panchayats are trying to say that either you bring in an amendment or such same things will continue,this is very sad and a matter of serious concern. I think the police should take it with a lot of seriousness and also increase its vigil at places where such diktats are being issued,” she added.

Shafiq also took a dig at a recent diktat issued by a panchayat in Jhajjar district,stating the girls above the age of 10 cannot wear jeans. “Why don’t you ever talk about a dress code for men? If a man is committing a mistake,you will still blame the woman for the kind of clothes she is wearing. This is totally illogical. If a boy wears jeans,why don’t you ask him to wear only dhoti and kurta. Why don’t you issue a diktat that boys will not roam around with cellphones and get haircuts like film heroes?”