Sonia Gandhi disappointed over SC verdict on gay rights issue; these are matters of personal freedom, says Rahul

New Delhi: Amid the storm over the Supreme Court verdict on gay rights issue, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed disappointment over the order, signalling that Parliament would address the matter.

Homosexuality is a matter of personal freedom, it should be upheld, Rahul told reporters adding he agreed with the Delhi High Court verdict which decriminalised homosexuality.

"I feel, my personal view is that these are matters of personal freedom. I think I would agree more with the High Court. I think these types of matters should be left to individuals. These are their choices. The country is known for its freedom of expression. That is what I think", he said.

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Sonia Gandhi expressed her disappointment that the apex court had reversed a previous Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising homosexuality.

Gandhi, who is also UPA Chairperson, hoped Parliament will address the issue and uphold the constitutional guarantee of life and liberty to all citizens of India, "including those directly affected by the judgement".

She said she was 'disappointed' that the Supreme Court has reversed a previous Delhi High Court ruling on the issue of gay rights but also noted that the Supreme Court also suggested another course, an obvious allusion to the option of legislation.

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"The high court had widely removed an archaic repressive and unjust law that infringed on the basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution. "This Constitution has given us a great legacy, a legacy of liberalism and openness, that enjoin us to combat prejudice and discrimination of any kind," the Congress President said in a statement.

She said "we are proud that our culture has always been an inclusive and tolerant one".

At the AICC briefing, Congress' Communication Department Secretary Priya Dutt said there is a 'legal recourse' to this issue as well like filing a curative or review petition.

"At least there is hope...that is a suggestion that has been given," she adding an option like ordianance is something which is exercised much after all these steps are taken.

To a question on whether the government will be able to enact a law in this regard after Congress President Sonia Gandhi's intervention, Union Minister Harish Rawat appeared to be suggesting that it would be difficult.

Addressing the AICC briefing along with Dutt, Rawat said there are already many sensitive issues before the government and it is not certain how many of them could be discussed. 

In a big blow to the LGBT community, the Supreme Court had yesterday set aside the landmark high court judgement decriminalising gay sex and threw the ball in Parliament's court for amending law.