Khap mentality: New Haryana CM has nothing new to offer

Breaking an 18-year-long jat citadel in the state of Haryana, where the community comprises over 25 per cent of its population, is new chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Other than being part of the BJP, prominent features in his political résumé include 40 years as RSS pracharak (the Harvard degree - summa cum laude even - for Indian politicians today), and staunch believer in khap panchayat rulings (a necessary qualification for the post of chief minister of Haryana).

Just eleven days before the advocate of "Modiji's vision and BJP's policies" was given this esteemed title, Khattar was quoted saying, "If you want freedom, why don't they (women, obviously) just roam around naked? Freedom has to be limited. These short clothes are western influences. Our country's tradition asks girls to dress decently." He went on to proclaim proudly that khap panchayat's rulings were justified, since they always "tried to abide by the Indian culture." Fair enough, because who doesn't love a good murder or two... for honour.

Former chief ministers of Haryana certainly did. The two-term tetrarch, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Khattar's immediate predecessor, once equated khap panchayats with NGOs, followed by (drumroll please) how they're part of "our culture". And if you want to go further back in the timeline of chief ministers in Haryana (only chronologically, mentally they date back to an era which hasn't yet been charted in history), Om Prakash Chautala, who ruled the state between 1999 and 2005, was all about averting the rampant incidence of rape in the state (very effectively, of course, because, have you seen Haryana today?). Drawing a parallel with the Mughal era, the progressive political luminary said two years ago, "During that period, people used to get their daughters married at a very early age fearing somebody will abduct them. A similar situation prevails in the state (Haryana). Teenage girls are being gangraped and the government is doing nothing. I have seen young girls getting married due to this fear. In such a situation, if khaps have suggested lowering marriage age of girls, I think it is correct." Again, this is an astute, and more importantly feasible, solution, because if you consider our equally progressive laws, marital rape isn't a crime. One might even say it's...part of Indian culture.

So, aside from being the first non-jat chief minister in close to two decades, there is nothing new Khattar has to offer in mindset when compared to his forerunners. And while the Supreme Court thinks khap panchayats should be illegal, these ancient law makers from (what some historians believe is) 600AD, have the stamp of approval of our politicians. And let's be clear, that stamp has as much of a bearing on the law, as say... a celebrated clean chit.