Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s recent reference to homosexuality as a ‘disease’, which has caused a furore in the country, has upset me no end.
I feel that the politicians of our nation are crippled by ignorance and are completely out of touch with the modern world. I strongly condemn the homophobic statement that the Union minister made, more so because it comes from a person who is in charge of the health portfolio!
But I won’t blame the minister per se who said that homosexuality is ‘unnatural’ and a ‘disease’. I want to put the blame on the general ignorance which leads persons like him to make such statements in public.
It is a setback for our society which shows the sorry state of affairs prevailing in our nation where the so-called ‘leaders’ of the government speak on issues without doing the necessary homework.
It is due to a lack of awareness that this general homophobia still exists in our society.Azad’s statement is most unscientific, to say the least, and being the health minister he ought to know all about health related issues!
If he doesn’t, then I don’t think he is fit for the job. Such a statement brings shame to the country and invalidates the effort that NGOs like ours are working towards for the past 15 years.
I have received emails from people in the USA and UK who feel outraged at Azad’s statement. They are questioning our tolerance towards such politicians.
Homosexuality is a sin according to Islam religion but India is a country of other religions too. This statement has come from a Muslim and not a Hindu because Hinduism has been tolerant to homosexuality for ages.
The Kamasutra, written hundreds of years ago, openly talks of homosexuality and transgenders.Azad says homosexuality didn’t exist in our country; it was imbibed from western countries.
Then how come temples of Khajuraho, Modhera and several others have sculptures depicting homoerotic forms, I ask!
Three years ago the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) had organised an international conference in Mexico which former health minister Ambumani Ramadoss also attended.
He supported the repeal of Section 377 which is being fought in the Delhi high court. Three years later, a minister of the same rank in the Congress government has given a contradictory statement. I feel this has now become serious and cannot be taken lightly.
The writer is a Rajpipla-based gay rights activist.
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