'I support Khaps for their good work'

Congress MP Naveen Jindal was in the news recently for his controversial views on honour killings. He clarifies his stance in this exclusive interview with MiD DAY

Congress MP Naveen Jindal was in the news recently for his controversial views on honour killings. He clarifies his stance in this exclusive interview with MiD DAY

Politician, industrialist, national level sportsperson - Naveen Jindal wears many hats. The 40-year-old Congress

All smiles: Congress MP from Kurukshetra Naveen Jindal.

MP from Kurukshetra is always opinionated, passionate about the tricolour and is now working for population stabilisation as his next mission. Here's the young steel tycoon unplugged.

Despite being a youth icon and a progressive leader, why have you been soft on khap panchayats?
Khaps are also an important part of civil society. We are ready to talk to left-wing extremists and also to separatists in Kashmir; those are banned organisation. Khaps are a legal entity. I support their good work and not any of the illegal or unethical views if any. I have tried to motivate them to work to remove social evils like dowry and female foeticide.

With Sonia re-elected for the fourth consecutive term as Congress president, the party is once again facing the allegation of promoting dynasty politics. What is your take?
It is a proud moment for all of us. I wish her to be elected Congress president ten times. The party has formed the government twice during her tenure. She is serving the nation without any lust for a post. She only wants the nation to do well. As opposition parties have no other issue, they are raising such stupid allegations. No other party has any leader of her stature.

With the back-breaking price rise coupled with the CWG corruption, don't you think that the Opposition renaming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) as United Regressive Alliance (URA) has some merit?
I know it as UPA only. The government has taken all its decisions keeping the people's interests in mind.

Rahul Gandhi has scored a point by stopping Vedanta in Orissa. Why is the Congress not taking a decision on the illegal mining in Karnataka?
In my view, the government is taking all the necessary steps to curb illegal mining, wherever it is. After all it is a challenging task. It takes time to curb any illegal activity.

In your last MiD DAY interview, you expressed the desire to be part of the Olympic Games' skeet shooting team. Tell us have you been selected for the Delhi Commonwealth Games?
I didn't make it to the team this time. I was one of the probables but I stood at number four. They have only selected two.

After giving ordinary Indians the power to hoist the national flag, are you confident of repeating the success story in your current population stagnation initiative?
The population of the country is growing rapidly. It has become a matter of concern not only for the nation but also for individual families. A small family is a happy family. Through education, especially educating girls, the rapid growth rate of population can be checked. A lot more has to be done such as giving the right kind of incentives to people who follow the concept. The details need to be worked out. For example, a couple should feel secure that they will be taken care of in their old age, even if they have only a girl child or no child