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Deferment of wrestler’s protest indicates clout of Khaps
Although the protesting wrestlers clarified that their fight would continue until they got justice, sources said that the decision of the union home minster to meet the wrestlers indicated that the BJP was wary of the possible political fallout of the wrestler’s protests.
Source: Deccan Herald
Four days before the June 9 deadline given by the powerful Jaat dominated Khaap panchayats for the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India Brijbhushan Sharan Singh who faces allegations of sexual exploitation by India’s leading female wrestlers, Union home minster Amit Shah suddenly met the protesting wrestlers following which the latter rejoined their duties.
Although the protesting wrestlers clarified that their fight would continue until they got justice, sources said that the decision of the union home minster to meet the wrestlers indicated that the BJP was wary of the possible political fallout of the wrestler’s protests.
Who are Khaaps?
According to a journal of Asian study’s book a 'Khap' is a group of members of a gotra or caste fraternity. These include people belonging to that caste of an area or some village. Elders and powerful people of that caste lead these khaps. The head of these khaps are people of one family or lineage. The person who is currently head of the Khaap, his son becomes the next head. When a head of Khap calls a meeting to take a decision on public issues with the people, it calls Khap.
Starting of the Khap:
According to the Ritika Thakur, senior research at Punjab University, Chandigarh, Khap originated during the 14th century. ‘Khap’ word was firstly used in legal papers in 1890-91 in a census report of Jodhpur which was based on cast or religion. Some experts believe that the word 'Khap' is probably derived from 'Shak' language Khatap, which means an area inhabited by a particular clan.
According to some research paper Khap was connected with 84 Villages. After independence, Chaudhary Jawan Singh Gurjar of Binra Niwas village was the head of this Sarva Khap Panchayat. In this khap panchayat, Thakur Yashpal Singh of Puniyala village was the vice-president, while Chaudhary Kabul Singh of Sorem village was its minister.
Works of Khap:
- Resolving family and village disputes.
- To maintain mutual brotherhood and trust among the people of the society.
- Protecting your area and people from any external attack.
Recent status of Khap:
At present there is 300 Khaps are available in India in which most of the Khaps belong to North India. Hariyana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi or Uttrakhand are the most active places.
