Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday condemned a khap panchayat in Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh) for issuing a “diktat’’ against women and hoped that the State government would take action against such elements which tried to impose “undemocratic firmans like dress codes and so on.”
Talking to mediapersons here, he asserted that there was no place for such “illegal orders” in a democratic society.
Watch on Punjab
Replying to another question on terrorism, he said the Centre was maintaining a tight vigil to ensure that no untoward incident occurred. Even though no terrorist acts had taken place recently, especially in Punjab, reports of “groups or individuals trying to revive terrorism and recovery of RDX from Ambala” were a matter of concern.
A watch was also being kept in Punjab in the context of the “move to set up a memorial in the Golden Temple for those killed during Operation Blue Star.”
Reiterating that the government was fully vigilant at the national level regarding the terrorist threat, he exuded confidence that it would be “contained.” If anyone tried to foment any trouble, strong action would be taken.
Stating that 2012 had been the most peaceful year in the north-east, he asserted that peace and normality were returning to Jammu and Kashmir as the number of violent incidents this year had gone down to single digit. Nine lakh tourists and 3.75 lakh Amarnath pilgrims had already visited the State.
On the Maoist issue, he said there had been a palpable improvement in States such as West Bengal, while efforts were on to tackle the problem in other States, including Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Keywords: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, panchayats, diktats on women, khap panchayat, Uttar Pradesh
Just saying won't serve any purpose. The persons giving such diktats should be put in jail and all tendencies to perpetuate taliban-tendencies should be nipped in the bud.
i saw news of these khap panchayats.Its realy very unfortunate that people inspite of creating such an enviroment in which their daughter's could grow freely and expand them selves, They are hampering their mental growth..these people do not do their respective duties and trying to impose laws on girls...gov should consider such people the real enemies of our country..inspite of vote bank.
Teach your Sons not to Harass... Rather than Teaching your Daughters how
to Dress.
Mr.Chidambaram says that none can say how a boy and girl should wear and how they should talk because he believes in rambha Urvasi and Menaka.
But there are citizens who believe in God and discipline. If Chidambaram thinks there is no discipline required in dress code and no discipline required in the way we talk then he is confused with Democracy.Democracy doesn't mean the majority can do as they want.
Never be against the virtues but do control if any one abusing in the name of promotion of virtues.
It is actually very disappointing and dis-encouraging to hear such
diktats by panchayats in the 21st century. Shouldn't a female be allowed
to live her life with what she covets! It is offensive to create an anarchic situation, and trying to be authoritative in a democratic
country like ours.
Chidambaram, Finally you proved that you also could talk sense.
Congrats
Strange that this gentleman was mum when fatwas were being issued in kashmir about dress code and isreali visitors.
A dangerous trend that has to be nipped not in the bud, but by uprooting the plant
that seems to be thriving in those areas. Even our metros are showing signs of police
intolerance egged on by societal encouragement to be intolerant. Kill it before it kilss
us and makes us another Afghanistan, or at least a Pakistan!
The panchayaths in some parts of India are behaving like tribal
councils in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Arab and African countries. Panchayaths in underdeveloped parts of the country dictates the diktas, fatwas and illegal orders based on fanatic fundamentalist religious ideologies. The fatwas and diktas are enforcing the religious, moral, and behavior of the individual, usurping the womens rights and equalty, with dress codes, banning of love marriage, stipulating age restrictions for women to go shoping, and use of cell phone. The panchayaths have no rights to issue these illegal orders that infringe the rights of individuals. Legal action should be taken againt the panchayaths and the members of the panchayaths for the issue of illegal orders and criminal acts. The state governments should dismiss the panchayath members once they are found guilty of criminal acts, illegal diktas, fatwas, orders and codes of conduct. The tribal system has no place in secular democracy.
sir,
Jati panchayats dictats and religious bodies issuing Fatwas are ancient traditions. All humans throughout the world have been governed by such institutions till the modern system of law was introduced. Such diktats and Fatwas have no legal value. People are free not to follow such 'orders'. But they definetely bring the social issues before society and response by respected leaders of that group. The media insted of engaging such groups in social dialogue launches onesided attack. It leads to nowhere. The media should go deep into problems raised by such social groups and should discuss possible solutions with social leaders. The Jati leaders and religious bodies are headed by respected leaders and they should not be condemed like this.
Why the Khap are not completely made illegal with introducing the laws. The country has faced lot of humiliation due to those old headless chickens. India should book those Khaps with Mocca and declare them terrorists and also treat them like terrorists.
Home Minister is as usual full with himself.Panchayats and Khap are a reality.Condemning them is not the answer.Answer will be found in asking a few Why?,Why in Haryana only?How to educate elderly conservative people who are actually afraid of rapid changes in society that they can't comprehend?How best to deal the situation without denigrating a very powerful instrument of social control that can be used to eliminate Dowry,Female infanticide,Illiteracy,untouchability,child marriage,corruption etc.
Khap is a pwerful institution.If they decide to boycott corrupt people,that could become a great weapon to fight that eveil.
Our elders need orientation,education and training to handle such issue.
Not Condemnation Mr Chidambram?
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