Asara Panchayat denies issuing Talibani diktat


The Asara Panchayat on Tuesday denied issuing any diktat against the freedom of womenfolk and blamed the media for "misrepresentation of facts."

“I was not in town at that time but on my return, I realised that elders in the village had a meeting in which they decided to ask girls to refrain from using mobiles, wearing western clothes, going out alone etc. During the meeting, the seniors deplored the age-old practice of dowry being given at the time of marriage to the family of the groom. It was also decided that both boys and girls must be sent to school for education. The Media did not present the correct picture of the decisions taken at that meeting," one Haji Salim from Asara village said explaining the "guidelines" issued by the Panchayat on Saturday.

General Secretary of Jat Mahasabha Yudhvir Singh dismissed any role of the Khap Panchayat in these guidelines.

“It was no way the decision of the Khap Panchayat. The meeting was held among some responsible people of the village who unanimously arrived at the decision to issue guidelines because of sharp rise in the number of criminal incidences against women in the village,” Singh stated.

"We dont want misbehaviour with women on the streets which was a rountine thing here. The women were simply asked to be careful, and to move out with the men of the family in order to ward off any mishappening," Yudhvir explained.

Interestingly, some women from Asara village came out in open support of the "guidelines."

“When Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is from Italy, can wear Indian traditional outfits then why we as Indians should not do the same. Girls must wear suit-salwar only”, said Reema (name changed on request) from Asara village.

“Provocative clothes should not be worn as they are the cause of rape many a time. Girls are raped because they go out wearing jeans practically inviting a rape. We are happy to shun our western outfits and mobile phones,” said Shama (name changed on request).

Beerpal Rathi, an activist fighting for farmers’ rights in Asara village, informed that the chief of the Panchayat does not take any interest in day-to-day affairs of the village. He lives in New Delhi and broadly manages things from there.

"Also police is not active in our area. When the entire village has happily accepted the precautionary measures or guideliness or what the Media is dubbing as diktats, why is the Central government reacting to it? The Media should also not unnecessarily flare up the matter," he advised.

4 comments:

  1. Dear Sapna
    I gather you are a Journalist.

    Your article on Asara is a bit off the beaten path..

    Where have you got your version of the events at Asara from?
    .
    If you do not mind, Could you share this?

    I would like to talk with you

    Ravi Chaudhary

    ravichaudhary2000@yahoo.com

    001 416 605 5102

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Ravi,

    You can see the names of people I had contacted during my research. My story is based on what I had been told by people linked to this event.

    Best.
    Sapna Madan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Sapna


    I am researching this episode.

    Your account makes sense.

    See also Soumik Mukerjee article in Tehelka

    - See more at: http://tehelka.com/the-khap-that-wasnt/#sthash.Zsfiag2V.dpuf

    It is good to see Journalists who do some invetigation.

    Are you doing any active Journalism currently ?.


    Would you be amenable to a call from me.

    If so send me your mobile.

    My email address is given

    I live in Toronto

    Ravi Chaudhary

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi,
    I am sorry to say I cant share my number as I don't know you. You can mail me on my email sapnamadan2@gmail.com.

    Regards,
    Sapna

    ReplyDelete