Khaps want laws against homosexuality, surrogate motherhood

A meet of khap panchayats, which have been demanding a ban on same gotra marriages, today sought legal recognition for these self-styled caste councils and laws against homosexuality and surrogate motherhood.

The mahapanchayat of khaps, which met in Meham, about 30 kms from Rohtak in Haryana, also threatened to hold a strike in Haryana on December 21 if their demand for amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act to ban the same 'gotra' (sub-caste) marriages is not met.

During the meeting that lasted nearly five hours, the meet also passed resolutions demanding a Lok Adalat status for khap panchayats with judicial powers and a ban on homosexuality and surrogate motherhood.

The khap panchayats also slammed, what they termed as, attempts "to deprive them of their social rights in the state".

They also favoured stern punishment for crimes related to pornography.

Maintaining that amendment in any law could be done within hours if the government wished so, former Haryana chief minister Hukam Singh questioned the intentions of the government over the issue of banning the same 'gotra' marriages.