Sonia - Rahul voice dismay over 'gay' order
PTI, NEW DELHI | 12 December 2013 21:38 IST
Amid the storm over the Supreme Court verdict on gay rights issue, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi today expressed disappointment over the order, signalling that Parliament would address the matter.
Homosexuality is a matter of personal freedom, it should be upheld, Rahul told reporters adding he agreed with the Delhi High Court verdict which decriminalised homosexuality.
"I feel, my personal view is that these are matters of personal freedom. I think I would agree more with the High Court. I think these types of matters should be left to individuals. These are their choices. The country is known for its freedom of expression. That is what I think", he said.
Sonia Gandhi expressed her disappointment that the apex court had reversed a previous Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising homosexuality.
Gandhi, who is also UPA Chairperson, hoped Parliament will address the issue and uphold the constitutional guarantee of life and liberty to all citizens of India, "including those directly affected by the judgement".
She said she was "disappointed" that the Supreme Court has reversed a previous Delhi High Court ruling on the issue of gay rights but also noted that the Supreme Court also suggested another course, an obvious allusion to the option of legislation.
"The high court had widely removed an archaic repressive and unjust law that infringed on the basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution.
"This Constitution has given us a great legacy, a legacy of liberalism and openness, that enjoin us to combat prejudice and discrimination of any kind," the Congress President said in a statement.
She said "we are proud that our culture has always been an inclusive and tolerant one".
In a big blow to the LGBT community, the Supreme Court had yesterday set aside the landmark high court judgement decriminalising gay sex and threw the ball in Parliament's court for amending law.
