JOIN US Striking a discordant note from his party, a Muslim member of the Aam Aadmi Party’s core group has strongly disfavoured the clamour to decriminalise Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The move comes a day after a prestigious Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh termed homosexuality and live-in relationships “unislamic” issuing a Fatwa. "Muslims are with the BJP and the RSS on this issue and there is no question of secularism and communalism in the matter,” AAP leader Ilias Azmi said. As the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government moved a review petition in the Supreme Court against its verdict on gay and lesbian sex, he took on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, alleging he was “dictating” his party’s agenda for his “personal reasons” going against the “majority opinion” within the party.
"This can only happen in jungles. Do UPA leaders want to make this country-jungle for the personal interest of one leader?" he wondered.
The AAP favours decriminalisation of Section 377, expressing its disappointment with the apex court verdict on the issue.
Azmi’s view on the issue was shared by other Muslim leaders also. President of the National Loktantrik Party Arshad Khan said all Muslim institutions as well as social and political groups would unite to teach the Congress a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls if the party goes ahead with its intention to get the Supremen Court verdict reversed.
“Muslim organisations are united in extending their support to the BJP on this issue (decriminalisation of Section 377). It is not a matter of politics or secularism," said convener of the Indian Muslim Relief and Charities Dr M J Khan.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said the Supreme Court's verdict was not only in line with the traditions and religious teachings of the country but also removes apprehensions about invasion of western culture and disintegration of family system.
"A majority of the people in our country believe in religion and uphold traditions of the east. All religions emphasise on formation of a family through marital relation between men and women, on which depends not only the existence of human race and lasting peace but it also establishes the respected and central position of woman in the society," said national president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari.
The BJP suggested that its stand on the apex court judgement on the Section 377 issue was still open as debate over the issue was not yet over.
"If you look at the issue, I don't think the debate is over. the court has upheld the validity of Section 377. What is covered under the Section and what is not, there is ambiguity. So let the government go and exhaust that," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, said.