Former union minister Shashi Tharoor wanted to introduce a private member's bill that seeks to amend Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor's bill to decriminalise gay sex in India could not be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid strong objections, with members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and even some from his own party walking out. There was no formal whip to Ruling party law makers but they were present in large numbers to ensure his bill's introduction was voted out with only 24 lawmakers in favour interestingly.
Law Minister Sadananda Gowda also opposed it.
"Surprising to see such intolerance," Mr Tharoor said in tweets.
The bill sought to drop the phrase and legalise sex between consenting adults, irrespective of gender or sexuality.
With Kerala elections due in the next few months, some of the state's law makers stayed away from the proceedings.
In 2009, the Delhi High Court exempted gay sex between consenting adults from Section 377 and said the law was against the right of privacy, personal liberty and equality.
The verdict was overturned in 2013 and the ban was restored by the Supreme Court, which found the law constitutionally valid and left it to Parliament to remove or change the law.
At the time, the ruling Congress appealed against the decision but the BJP said it backed 377.
Since the BJP came to power last year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has backed calls for changing the law and ending the ban.
"When you have millions of people involved in this (gay sex) you can't nudge them off," the minister said at an event last month.
"When millions of people world over are having alternative sexual preferences, it is too late in the day to propound a view that they should be jailed. The Delhi High Court's view appears more acceptable," he commented.
Law Minister Sadananda Gowda also opposed it.
"Surprising to see such intolerance," Mr Tharoor said in tweets.
1/2 Intro of Pvt.Member's Bill2decriminalize consensual sex btwn consenting adults defeated in LS 71-24. Surprising to see such intolerance.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 20152/2 Notice of intent to oppose introducn of Bill came so late there was no time 2rally support. Will try again in future. We shall overcome!
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015The bill sought to drop the phrase and legalise sex between consenting adults, irrespective of gender or sexuality.
With Kerala elections due in the next few months, some of the state's law makers stayed away from the proceedings.
In 2009, the Delhi High Court exempted gay sex between consenting adults from Section 377 and said the law was against the right of privacy, personal liberty and equality.
The verdict was overturned in 2013 and the ban was restored by the Supreme Court, which found the law constitutionally valid and left it to Parliament to remove or change the law.
At the time, the ruling Congress appealed against the decision but the BJP said it backed 377.
Since the BJP came to power last year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has backed calls for changing the law and ending the ban.
"When you have millions of people involved in this (gay sex) you can't nudge them off," the minister said at an event last month.
"When millions of people world over are having alternative sexual preferences, it is too late in the day to propound a view that they should be jailed. The Delhi High Court's view appears more acceptable," he commented.
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