Muslim leaders laud stand of BJP, RSS on homosexuality

NEW DELHI: A group of Muslim leaders on Friday lauded the BJP-RSS stand against decriminalizing homosexuality while slamming the Congress-led UPA government for filing a review petition against the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Section 377. They dared the Congress to spell out its support for homosexuals in its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Hitting out at Congress, former BSP MP and AAP core committee member Ilyas Azmi said, "Rahul Gandhi is dictating the Congress agenda for his personal reasons, against the majority opinion within the party."

BJP leader and IMRC convenor M J Khan said Muslim organisations are united in supporting BJP on the homosexuality issue, thus bringing the community closer to the party.

"BJP president (Rajnath Singh) is the only person who has taken a clear stand, while others are speaking in a dubious language. It is not a matter of politics or secularism, but an anti human issue," said Khan.

Muslim leaders said homosexuality is against nature, culture and the country's value system.

Qari M M Mazhari, editor of Secular Qayadat said same sex marriage is against tenets of all major religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism and Jewish. "By going for review petition, the UPA is digging its grave," he said.

Muslims will unite and teach the Congress a lesson in 2014 polls if it tries to reverse the SC verdict, said National Loktantrik Party chief Arshad Khan.

Azmi said freedom cannot be absolute in a civilized society. "This can only happen in jungle. Do UPA leaders want to make this country jungle for the personal issue of one leader?" he said.