NEW DELHI: The CPM on Saturday demanded tabling of a draft law to deal with honour killings in the monsoon session of Parliament, alleging that “political considerations” were downplaying the magnitude of such crimes.

The party also criticised home minister P Chidambaram, saying he had a “flawed understanding” on having a separate comprehensive legislation on the issue and alleged that at least in one state, where several such murders had taken place, there was an attempt by those in office to defend the actions of “self-styled caste panchayats”.

In a letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh, CPM leader Brinda Karat said, “There are political considerations at work to downplay the magnitude of the crime. There is an attempt by those in office in at least one of the states where such crimes have occurred to defend the highly retrograde actions of self-styled caste panchayats in the name of tradition...,” she wrote.

 Urging the PM to “do justice to young couples who are victims of anti-democratic and casteist notions and beliefs,” she said, “What is required is a firm decision by the government for a separate law, the draft of which may be placed in Parliament in the coming session”.