The latest politician to talk about scrapping Section 377 that criminalises “sex against the order of nature” is Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Mr. Tharoor declared his support for Delhi Queer Pride that was held today and said he will be introducing a private member’s bill in Parliament for removal of Section 377. He further added that he had already submitted the bill ten days ago to Parliament and was hoping it will be admitted for discussion.
Back in Delhi for Parliament, heard about huge LGBT Pride rally today. Time to #Scrap377. I am introducing a PvtMember’sBill in Parliament
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 29, 2015
My bill to decriminalize consensual sex between adults of any gender was submitted ten days ago toParliament. Hope it will be admitted4discn — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 29, 2015
Gaurav Gogoi, Member of Parliament from Kaliabor, Assam and son of current Chief Minister of Assam, retweeted, expressing his full support to Tharoor.
Yesterday, speaking at Times LitFest, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that Supreme Court should reconsider its judgement on Sec 377. P Chidambram, Congress MP, had also said at the LitFest that Sec 377 should be scrapped. However, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy soon tweeted that homosexuality was a “genetic flaw” that was being celebrated.
Legitimizing homosexuality leads to commercial profit since Gay Bars will be opened in all cities on FDI. It is a genetic flaw celebrated
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) November 29, 2015
A Private Member’s bill can be introduced by any Member of Parliament. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, was also a Private Member’s Bill that was introduced by DMK MP Tiruchi N Siva in the Rajya Sabha and was passed unanimously by the House.