Chief of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) & head of the Baliyan Khap of Jats Naresh Tikait has said that “love marriages aren't acceptable & the ‘Khap’ will never allow it”.
In a video that is gaining traction on social media, Mr. Tikait could be heard saying that parents these days spent ₹30-40 lakhs on the education of their girls & then they go & marry somebody of their choice. “This isn't right. When they spend on their nurturing, parents should have a say in the selection of the life partner of their daughters.” He said his appeal was not just for girls but boys as well. “But it is more directed towards girls, as they are the ‘izzat’ (pride) of the family. Such actions lower the pride of the family in society.”
The video was recorded at a community convention of Jats in Baghpat last Friday.
Senior leader & Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait told News Agency that the guidelines were more about love marriages within the ‘gotra’. “The ‘Khap’ is open to inter-caste marriages, most of which are love marriages, among equivalent caste groups. We attend such marriages but marriages within the ‘gotra’ are still looked down upon, despite the Top Court directions. Villagers still boycott such weddings as it is against their customs,” said Mr. Rakesh.
He said the ‘Khap’ had accepted that love marriage was a reality these days. “Their numbers are increasing with the movement of our children to cities for jobs. But the children should understand that love & marriage are 2 different things. In our society, it is a kind of pact between 2 families. Parents should also understand that the forced separation of lovers isn't a solution. Youngsters understand their rights under the law, & social pressure doesn’t work on them. It is better to turn love marriages into arranged marriages.”
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