The Private Bill to decriminalise homosexuality voted against again in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha had voted against the introduction of a private member’s Bill brought by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to decriminalise homosexuality. This is the second time the Bill got rejected in Parliament as he had introduced a similar bill in December.

Shashi Tharoor slammed the ruling BJP for “religious bigotry”, as the Bill seeks to amend the "colonial era" section 377 of the IPC which criminalises homosexuality, marking "a low in the proud annals of Indian democracy". The Congress MP expressed his anguish and regret about the Lower house not being allowed to discuss and debate a law which was formulated by the British Rulers.

As Tharoor sought to introduce the private member's bill, BJP members negated the motion but the Congress member insisted on a division of House.

58 out of 73 members present voted against introduction of the Bill, while 14 favoured it. One member abstained from voting.