Just after the celebrations of the second anniversary of the decision to decriminalize homosexuality, Ghulam Nabi Azad outraged people for his latest remarks. Azad has shocked the sexual minorities recently by saying that homosexuality is a disease.

Just when the gay and bi-sexual community was on the verge of making changes in the way they were viewed by society, Azad had the audacity to say such a thing. Protest quickly collaborated and began chanting shouts during a flash protest, “Idli sambhar aha hai, Ghulam Nabi luchaa hai, (Idli Sambhar is nice, Ghulam Nabi is a rogue)”.

Manaohar Elavarthi, Director of Sangama states, that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in order for sexual minorities to be accepted and can be considered in the mainstream. Azad’s recent comments will not help them at all.

Azad has stated that he did not say such a thing but he has been quoted from the news channel where the minister clearly calls homosexuality a ‘bimaari’. Siddharth Narrain of Alternate Law Forum (ALF) said: “The minister’s statement is unscientific. It has no rational evidence. In fact, National Aids Control Organization has made a submission in the Delhi High Court mentioning how section 377 was causing a serious health concern, as homosexual could not be brought in the ambit of awareness”.