Khap Panchayat asks women of Haryana, UP, Punjab, Rajasthan to shun ghoonghat

Khap Panchayats, which are infamous for its anti-women statements, for the first time made an announcement in favour of the fairer sex. One of most influential Khap Panchayat of North India — Mallik Gathwala Khap — on Wednesday has asked women to shun the centuries-old tradition of wearing ‘ghoonghat’ (veil).

Baljeet Malik, chief of Malik Gathwala Khap said, “Forcing women to remain confined under veils is foolishness. Time has come to end the century-old tradition that is not relevant in current time.”

Malik requested the women not wear ‘ghoonghat’ during an event organised at Sonepat. Bihar governor Satyapal Malik and Union Minister Birender Singh was also present in the program organised to male birth anniversary of its ancestral leader.

“Women if they wish can keep a scarf on their heads to show respect to elders,” added Malik

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The Malik Ghatwala Khap chief added the ‘ghoonghat’ blocks vision and does let women breathe women properly. “Happiness comes to those houses where daughter-in-laws are loved like daughters,” said Malik.  

He also asked people to save girls and boycott people indulging in female foeticide or infanticide.

has asked people to honour ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign by socially boycotting those indulging in female foeticide or infanticide.

The Malik Gathwala Khap has its influence over 700 villages across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan.