Click to play videoNew Delhi: It was said that Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister Veerappa Moily and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were planning a historic meeting - their purpose to repeal Section 377, an antiquated law which proclaimed that gays were criminals.
But even before they could take any step, there was a muffled protest from the church, the temple priests, the maulanas, the Government began retracing its steps.
"I never said it (the law) will be reappealed. My statement has been misinterpreted. And as far as Section 377 of the IPC is concerned I said I have not yet examined it," Moily said.
For years, former home minister Shivraj Patil had refused to entertain any plea for a revocation of Section 377. Now, even UPA is developing cold feet sensing that there's a large section of the electorate who aren't liberal enough to accept the fundamental rights of the gay community.
Ghulam Nabi Azad says, "There should be more debate - public and Parliament debate. There has to be a consensus and the negative and positive has to be evaluated."
Consensus building on controversial issues like sexual rights of the homosexuals may take an inordinately long time.
This is the second time that the UPA Government is faced with the dilemma of whether or not to repeal Section 377 of the IPC. In the last government, former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss had decided to fight for the legalisation of homosexuality. But in the new Government, no minister is ready to take a clear stand.
COUNTRIES WHERE HOMOSEXUALITY IS ILLEGAL
India
Afghanistan
Iran
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Sri Lanka
COUNTRIES WHERE HOMOSEXUALITY IS LEGAL
China
France
Italy
Germany
United Kingdom
Russia
Iraq
Israel
United States
COUNTRIES HOMOSEXUALS CAN MARRY IN
Belgium
Canada
Netherlands
Spain
United States
COUNTRIES WHERE HOMOSEXUALS CAN ADOPT KIDS
Sweden
Holland
Spain
England
Belgium
Canada (gay adoption is legal in nine out of Canada's 12 provinces)
US - several states including California, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York,New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington DC and Washington allow adoption by gay and lesbian couples.
(With inputs from Preeti Singh in Hyderabad)
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
