Khap panchayats seek legal recognition

Meham, Haryana: Leaders of 21 khaps from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh met in Meham on Sunday for the maha panchayat. Almost 5000 people, including women, attended the meeting.

At the end of it, the self-styled caste councils came up with a charter of demands for the Centre and state governments.

Their key demands include:

• Making same-gotra marriages illegal
• Declaring homosexuality and surrogacy illegal
• Giving Khap panchayats status of lok adalats
• Strict ruling against obscene literature, films and ads

"We are going to spread the word through bar councils and pamphlets, and gather support in different villages till December," said Shamsher Singh, a Khap panchayat representative.

The Khap leaders want the government to respond by December 12, threatening to strike if their demands are not heard.