According to latest news, the former Haryana Chief Minister and INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala has supported the Khap’s suggestion that girls should be married at early age as it will lower the rape cases in the state.

His statement came at a time when around 15 rape cases have been reported in the state in the second week of October.

INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala’s statement came a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s visit. Talking to media, Chautala said, “We should learn from the past, especially in the Mughal era, people used to marry their girls early to save them from Mughal atrocities.”

Further, he said, “Currently, a similar situation is arising in the state. I think that’s the reason khap has taken such a decision and I support it.”

Om Prakash Chautala said the above statement at the time of submitting a memorandum against growing rape cases in Haryana to Governor Jagannath Pahadia.

He said Sonia Gandhi should have visited the state earlier. He said, “She should have visited earlier, may be the government would have been more responsive earlier.”

On the other hand, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said, “It is the judiciary which decides on matters of law not khaps.”

Sonia Gandhi yesterday visited the Sacha Khera village in Jind district, where a teenage Dalit girls committed set herself fire after being gang-raped by upper caste men.

Meanwhile, crime cases against women in the state are growing in the past few months.