By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Leaders of several religious communities in India today shared a platform in Delhi to denounce the Delhi High Court verdict that has decriminalized homosexuality in the country by scrapping the Section 377 of IPC that had since 1860 considered this mode of sexual intercourse illegal and criminal.
Jointly addressing a press conference at Press Club of India in New Delhi the religious leaders of Muslim, Sikh, Jain and Christian communities opposed in unison the July 2 Delhi High Court order, and demanded the government to intervene in the matter and “declare in clear terms that unnatural sex is unacceptable and illegal.”
L-R: SQR Ilyas, Member, Muslim Personal Law Board, Jalaluddin Umri, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Jain leader Acharya Lokesh Muniji, Fr. Dr. Dominic Emmanuel, Sikh leader Sardar Tarsem Singh
“The religious and social leaders regard the recent Delhi High Court judgment which legitimizes homosexuality, as shocking, deplorable and unfortunate,” they said.
They have given a call to people to stand up against this new development, and announced an all India campaign in this regard.
“The religious leaders of the country call upon the people who believe in ethical, cultural and religious values to stand up against a calculated effort by some groups to impose upon us the corrupt western value system to spoil the family system and social fabric of the country. We have decided to launch an all India campaign against such tendencies,” they said.
The press conference was addressed by Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Shankaracharya Onkaranandji, Jain leader Acharya Lokesh Muniji, Sikh leader Sardar Tarsem Singh and Fr. Dr. Dominic Emmanuel.
Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri said: “The High Court order has caused uneasiness among the religious communities in the country as homosexuality is against religions and social and cultural values of our country.” This kind of sexual act has always been considered a crime, he added.
Terming homosexuality an unnatural act the Maulana said: This is unnatural as naturally men get attracted towards women, not men. Similar is the case with animals. They are not homosexuals. Besides, the purpose of natural sexual act is to produce human being but gay sex will diminish it. Not only this, this will just demolish the foundation of a family system.
Jain religious leader and chief of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati, Acharya Lokesh Muniji said: We are not against individual liberty. But in the name of individual liberty we cannot allow thousands year old civilization and culture of India which is based on moral and spiritual values to be depleted.
“The High Court order will demolish the Indian culture and civilization and will help fast depletion of moral values from the society,” he said.
Sikh religion does not allow homosexuality as it is against the natural order,” said Sardar Tarsem Singh, Chairman, Pracharak Committee, Delhi Sikh Guruduwara Parbandhak Committee.
Fr. Dr. Dominic Emmanuel while did not oppose decriminalization of homosexuality, expressed apprehension that this will affect the marriage and family system.