Khap Panchayat demands Aamir Khan's Satyamev Jayate to be taken off

13 June, 2012

When Khap Panchayat people had to answer the uncomfortable questions of Aamir Khan about honour killing, they justified their views. However, they did not forget the matter then and there, and met after the airing of the episode, and have now demanded that the show be taken off air.

AAMIR KHAN has managed to get on the nerves of some people, who feel that they are not doing anything wrong in the pretext of honour and safeguarding self respect. The Khap panchayat of Haryana met to take a stand on Aamir Khan and his show Satyamev Jayate that aired an episode against honour killing and it obviously did not go well with the Khap people, who endorse the before said view. The Khap people have taken that as an insult and demanded that the show should be taken off air for preaching things that are immoral and not which shows them in a 'poor light'.

The Sarv Khap is a local system of social administration that functions in states such as Harayana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Infamously known for their rigorous diktats and conforming to social orders by giving harsh judgments, these people act as the final word in these regions. One of the greatest problems of Khap in the modern India is the increase in negative opinion against people who marry by their own free will into some other caste other than their own. Such is their power that cases of honour killing have become a way with them for ages. Focusing on this point and how couples, who have eloped for the fear of their lives, Satyamev Jayate pointed a finger at the Khap and questioned them about their actions.

Although members of Meham Chaubisi Panchayat were present and supported their viewpoint vehemently but it was after the show that the Khap leaders felt that their belief and institution had been insulted. On the pretext of a phone call received by Randhir Singh, Head of Meham Chaubisi Panchayat, which was from a villager whose 3 year old granddaughter had said that even she would elope and marry, he said that the show is spreading the wrong message to the society. Not addressing the elephant in the room, as to why does anyone have to elope if not for fear of their life, they are blaming the actor for bringing up a vital debate into the minds of the people.

The show is for sure making people uncomfortable and hopefully this is just the first step. Just making people uncomfortable should not be the end, we should do something for all the Rizwaan and Priyanka, Manoj and Bablis in the country, who are the real victims of honour killing and till date their families are seeking justice. Aamir Khan is yet to comment on the Khap demands and we are pretty sure that Khan would not buckle under pressure from people who hold on to unprogressive rituals and treat women as second class citizen - not good enough to make their own decisions.