New Delhi, July 02: Political parties were on Thursday
divided over the Delhi High Court verdict legalising
homosexuality over which the government was guarded in its
reaction.
While Congress and BJP adopted a cautious approach,
Left parties and NCP supported it. Samajwadi Party, however,
opposed the judgement.
"We need to examine the details of the judgement. Let
me examine it," said Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, who had
been given the task of building a consensus between the Home
and Health Ministries on the issue, while commenting on the
court judgement.
Congress also played safe by saying the High Court
verdict was a matter between the court and the government.
"It is between the court and the government and the
party has nothing to do with it," party spokesman Shakeel
Ahmed said.
BJP also treaded a cautious line on the verdict saying
it was yet to discuss and reach an opinion on the issue.
"We (BJP) have not been able to discuss the issue and
make up our mind yet," Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the
Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said.
The two main parties chose to be circumspect on the
court verdict fearing it would lead to negative reaction from
the conservative elements of society.
Swaraj said the UPA government itself seemed to be
divided on the verdict given by the High Court.
"First the government should give its opinion on the
issue," she said. However, she added BJP was not waiting for
the UPA government's view before arriving at its own decision.
BJP leader and MP Murli Manohar Joshi, on the other
hand, was clear in opposing the verdict.
"One or two judges only cannot decide everything...
Parliament is above it (judiciary). Country, society are also
above it," he said while making it clear that his views were
"personal".
Asked to comment on Joshi's observations, Swaraj
evaded a reply, saying she was not aware of the details.
Opposing the High Court verdict, Samajwadi Party
leader Amar Singh said "we are not in favour of
homosexuality".
NCP leader Praful Patel spoke in support of the
development, saying "in case of Section 377, if some amendment
is proposed though dialogue, I don't think NCP has any
issue."
The Union Minister said times have changed and "many
law and rules are very archaic and they do not represent the
need of the modern times."
Welcoming the Delhi High Court verdict, CPI-M leader
Prakash Karat said "our party has been discussing this issue
of Section 377... We are not for criminalisation of this
(homosexuality)...So, if there is any step taken for
decriminalisation we would support it."
Bureau Report