Union Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss speaking at the 17th International AIDS Conference in the Mexico city, advocated for the scrapping of the article 377, which criminalizes homosexuality. He expressed that “Structural discrimination against those who are vulnerable to HIV such as sex workers and men having sex with men must be removed if our prevention, care and treatment programmes are to succeed”.
Though the health minister has said it keeping in mind the “stabilization of the HIV epidemic” that India is currently witnessing but this is something which is never imagined of being spoken by a minister. With changing times society needs to change its perception, but barely nine months before the general elections, when the UPA government is trying to be politically safe, such a comment indeed seems bravado. Because, this may upset a huge section of conservatives. The concern of the health minister was totally medical in asking for deleting Article 377, but it has social ramification as well.
Whatever may be the concern and ramification of this suggestion, it clearly indicates that some of the bravest and futuristic comments by Indian leaders can come on foreign soil. Like opposition leader, L.K.Adavni’s comments on Jinnah’s secularism, also came during his visit to Pakistan in 2005. Advani’s comments created unwanted controversy. Hope that Ramdoss’s does not meet the same fate.
Though the health minister has said it keeping in mind the “stabilization of the HIV epidemic” that India is currently witnessing but this is something which is never imagined of being spoken by a minister. With changing times society needs to change its perception, but barely nine months before the general elections, when the UPA government is trying to be politically safe, such a comment indeed seems bravado. Because, this may upset a huge section of conservatives. The concern of the health minister was totally medical in asking for deleting Article 377, but it has social ramification as well.
Whatever may be the concern and ramification of this suggestion, it clearly indicates that some of the bravest and futuristic comments by Indian leaders can come on foreign soil. Like opposition leader, L.K.Adavni’s comments on Jinnah’s secularism, also came during his visit to Pakistan in 2005. Advani’s comments created unwanted controversy. Hope that Ramdoss’s does not meet the same fate.
No comments:
Post a Comment