Arvind Kejriwal's AAP now eyes Haryana, open to dialogue with 'khap panchayats'

New Delhi: After a stunning debut in Delhi, it's neighbouring Haryana that figures prominently in the Aam Aadmi Party's plans. Apart from national elections, due by May, the state is also going to have its Assembly elections this year.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has decided to fight all 90 seats in Haryana and has opened a unit in all 21 districts of the state.

Leading the AAP's campaign in Haryana is political expert-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav. "We have run out of membership forms in Haryana. This is more than perhaps is due to us. We have stepped in a political vacuum. All I can say this isn't all our doing," Mr Yadav says.

One of the major issues in the state is what is known as dishonor killings. The AAP says it is open to dialogue with 'khap panchayats' or community leaders, including the youth, on the controversial subject.

Khaps, which are unelected community panchayats, have been demanding amendment to Hindu marriage law to prevent marriages within the same 'gotra' or clan. The Supreme Court described dishonor killings as "shameful and barbaric" committed by "feudal-minded persons" who "deserve harsh punishment."

When asked if AAP supports the khap panchayats' demand, Mr Yadav said, "No, we would invite them to an honest democratic dialogue. I would say the future generations should have a little more voice than those which are fading away. Once that dialogue is established and the entire Jat community feels the definition of 'gotra' should be expanded, why not?"

To which Randeep Surjewala of the Congress retorted, "Then we would have to have a referendum slash plebiscite slash opinion where everybody comes to vote. Changes in laws take place in legislatures and parliament."

While a confident AAP begins campaigning in some states even before coming out with a manifesto, the question now is will the party be able to repeat the Delhi magic in states like Haryana, and, more importantly, on the national stage?

I suggest that Hindu religious leaders should make a thorough overhaul of Gotras and castes.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter IV, Sloke 13

Lord Krishna says "Hae Arjun, goon aur karma ke bivagh se Brahman, Kshtriya, Vaisya aur Sudra mere dwara rache gaye hai, oonke Kartako bhi mujh avinashi parmeswarko thu akarta he jan"

Translation, " O! Arjun, according to the work done by a person and the competence or talent of a person, I have made the Brahman, Kshtriya, Vaisya and Sudhra.You may consider that they have been made by me, God, although I do not make anything.

What this means is that the four castes were made according to the work done by them and their capabilities. There is nothing about birth in what Lord Krishna has said. Then how did this caste become heredity?

This aberration was introduced by the Brahmans so that they and their children could always be higher castes and the others were trampled so that they would always be the weaker caste.

Now we see Brahmins running a laundry or even running a shoe shop which should make them Sudras but they still remain Brahmans. On the other hand a dalit may be an IAS officer which may categorise him as a Kshtriya but he still remains a dalit by birth.

These divisions may have been applicable more than a century ago but in this modern age where everything is mechanised and most dalits have left their professions, referring to the caste system is inappropriate.

The professions have also changed.

We have doctors, engineers, lawyers, software professionals, bankers, businessmen, government servants etc etc.

The present day caste system should be according to these professions and boys and girls are choosing their companions within their own caste, professionally.

I agree that people should marry within their caste but caste by profession and not by birth, then these disputes would not rise.

We do have inter-caste marriages in this also where a doctor may marry an engineer or a lawyer may marry a banker. As long as their habits and likes and dispositions match, there is no harm.

Gotras.

The Gotras again was introduced by the Brahmans to keep their clans on top. After more than 5000 years, the genes of all the people in India have been diluted so much that it is foolish to say that we are descendants of some particular rishis. All these foolish things are dividing us and instead of solving more important problems, we are bogged down in mundane matters and fighting among ourselves.

Let us remove the caste divide by removing surnames.

Let us follow the system as in Tamilnadu.

Just have your name followed by you father's name, nothing else, not even village.

Thus I would be known as Radheshyam Gopinath.

My sons would be known as Ajay Radheshyam and Jay Radheshyam.

This name change could be done immediately with an affadavit so that all legal problems are taken care of.

Unless we do this, this division of Hindus will continue to the detriment of the whole nation.

I don't think any of the present political parties, except the CPI & CPM, will agree to this because of vote bank politics but I am sure, AAP could include this in their election manifesto