Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) Maintaining that homosexuality is against nature and the “will of god”, religious leaders Thursday urged the government to take their views into consideration before taking any decision on the court judgement de-criminalising gay sex.
“We urge the union and Delhi governments to keep in mind the views of various religious committees while taking a stand on the judgement of the Delhi High Court,” Jain religious leader Acharya Lokesh Muniji told reporters at a press conference of religious leaders here Thursday.

“It’s not that we don’t support independence of individuals but this judgment challenges the will of god,” he told the media hours after the Supreme Court Thursday issued notices to the union government on its stand on the Delhi High Court verdict de-criminalising gay sex.

Wearing a white robe and his mouth covered with a mask, he said that the court judgement is like a first step towards legalising homosexual marriages in the country.

“As a representative of a religious body, one of my greatest fears is that this judgement may act like a first step towards legalising homosexual marriages in India. This would be completely unacceptable by us,” he said.

“Our views should be kept in mind when the government takes any stand on the judgement,” the Jain monk said.

The apex court has issued notices to the union government, the Delhi government and the NGO Naz Foundation seeking their stands on a lawsuit challenging the July 2 verdict of the Delhi High Court de-criminalising gay sex.

The bench has sought replies by July 20, the next date of hearing in the case.

Sharing the platform with Muniji was the president of Jamaat-e-Islaami Hind, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari.

The Maulana said that according to Islam homosexuality is a crime. “Such behaviour is against the moral values of our nation that is based on cultural and ethical traditions. The government should take our views seriously.”

“The family is the most important unit of the society and legalisation of such acts would completely distort the foundation of relationships in the country,” he added.

Father Dominic Emmanuel, the founder of Sarvadharma Sadbhav (Communal Harmony and Peace), said: “We have no objection or opposition to de-criminalisation of homosexuality because we never considered them (homosexuals) as criminals.”

“However, we are also clear that we are against legalising it… because what they do is unnatural and against the design and will of god.”

Agreeing with him was Sardar Tarsem Singh of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.

“Sikh religion doesn’t view homosexuals as criminals but we don’t encourage it.”