Haryana Khap Panchayat Leader Blames Fast Food For Rape Incidents

After a Haryana Khap panchayat leader suggested reducing the marriageable age of girls down to 16 years, another leader blamed consumption of fast food as the reason behind the rise in rape cases in the state.

Jitender Chhatar, a thua khap panchayat leader and resident of Jind's Chhatar village, said that obscenity in movies, lack of culture and consumption of fast food are the main reasons responsible for such incidents in Haryana.

"To my understanding, consumption of fast food contributes to such incidents. Chowmein leads to hormonal imbalance evoking an urge to indulge in such acts. You also know the impact of chowmein, which is a spicy food, on our body. Hence, our elders also advised to consume light and nutritious food," The Times of India quoted Jitender Chhatar as saying.

"When we eat fast food, heat is produced in the body and this leads to faster production of sex hormones. There is no doubt about this. We should therefore consume cold things. And we should adopt Indian culture," Chhatar said, according to Outlook India.

Chhatar's statement about fast food and culture came days after other leaders suggested bringing down the marriageable age to curb the high rate of rape incidents in the state. Former Harayana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala also supported the idea of lowering age of marriage for girls.

Chhatar said that caste has nothing to do with such crimes.

"That is completely false. This is a media creation. Everyone's reputation is equal. Caste is not a factor. Whether a Dalit or some other caste, we respect all Indian women. Look at what happened in Sacha Khera, a Dalit raped another Dalit. Rapists have no caste, they don't care whether she is a Dalit, a Jat or Rajput," he said, according to Firstpost.