NEW DELHI: United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has accused India of fomenting intolerance with its ban on gay sex amid uproar over a ruling party minister's plans to make homosexuals “normal”.
Speaking on a visit to the capital New Delhi, Ban said he “staunchly opposed the criminalisation of homosexuality” referring to India’s colonial-era law that prohibits gay sex.
“I am proud to stand for the equality of all people — including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender,” the UN secretary general said in a statement late Monday.
“I speak out because laws criminalising consensual, adult same-sex relationships violate basic rights to privacy and to freedom from discrimination. Even if they are not enforced, these laws breed intolerance."
India’s Supreme Court reimposed a ban on gay sex in late 2013, ruling that the responsibility for changing the 1861 law rested with lawmakers and not judges. Take a look: India’s Supreme Court upholds law making gay sex crime
Gay sex had been effectively legalised in 2009 when the Delhi High Court ruled that banning “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” was a violation of fundamental rights.
Ban’s comments came on the same day that a state minister from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party announced his plans to make gays “normal “in the coastal resort state of Goa.
Ramesh Tawadkar, sports and youth affairs minister in Goa’s state government, told reporters that he planned to open up centres on the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous to treat them.
“We will make them normal. We will have centres for them, like Alcoholic Anonymous centres,” Tawadkar said, adding that the state would “train them and give them medicines too”.
Tawadkar, a member of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made the comments after releasing the state’s policy on youth issues which listed lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders as a stigmatised group that needed attention.
His comments drew widespread criticism and ridicule from gay rights groups and social media with jeering remarks posted on Twitter.
“There has to be someone from the higher authorities… from the BJP who will have to speak up on this because when you are silent about someone making such an irresponsible statement you are actually admitting it,” Harish Iyer, a gay rights activist, told NDTV news channel.
Re: U.N ief accuses India of intolerance with homosexuality ban.
I don't think India should ban homosexuality at all. What right have state got to regulate people's sexual behaviour.
All the major religions in India denounce homosexuality and unfortunately successive Indian governments have been catering to religious considerations. Religion needs to stay out of people's bed rooms.
Re: U.N ief accuses India of intolerance with homosexuality ban.
The BJP has nothing to do with this. Narendra Modi did not make that statement. This article is a fabrication. We should not lay the blame where it belongs. We should blame all major religions in India. But not the major religion in India.
Re: U.N ief accuses India of intolerance with homosexuality ban.
What statement did Modi make - pls enlighten us ? Homosexuality was made a criminal offence under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, more than 150 years before the Modi government came to power.
But when did you ever let facts come in your way, Southie ?
Re: U.N ief accuses India of intolerance with homosexuality ban.
"Modi's ruling party announced his plans to make gays “normal “in the coastal resort state of Goa." For the benefit of the bean counters, earlier post modification - replace statement with plans.
Re: U.N ief accuses India of intolerance with homosexuality ban.
"Modi's ruling party announced his plans to make gays “normal “in the coastal resort state of Goa." For the benefit of the bean counters, earlier post modification - replace statement with plans.
Indeed, denial always works. For trolls.
Modi's ruling party announced.....?? Earlier, you mentioned Modi made a statement. Never mind, go ahead and keep twisting facts.
Re: U.N ief accuses India of intolerance with homosexuality ban.
"Modi's ruling party announced his plans to make gays “normal “in the coastal resort state of Goa." For the benefit of the bean counters, earlier post modification - replace statement with plans.
Indeed, denial always works. For trolls.
Modi's ruling party announced.....?? Earlier, you mentioned Modi made a statement. Never mind, go ahead and keep twisting facts.
Did you not read my clarification for the bean counters?
Could you please ignore me as promised? Pretty please?
