Shashi Tharoor's bill to legalise gay sex defeated in Lok Sabha; he dubs it 'intolerance'

A majority of Lok Sabha members on Friday voted against the introduction of a private member bill seeking amendments to Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, that criminalises homosexuality.

The bill being pushed by Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor could not come up for debate, after 71 LS members voted against it. Shashi Tharoor called the 71-24 defeat of the bill in the Lok Sabha "intolerance."

In a Twitter post, the former Union Minister said: "Intro of Pvt.Member's Bill2decriminalize consensual sex btwn consenting adults defeated in LS 71-24. Surprising to see such intolerance."

Tharoor also said that he didn't have time to rally support as the "notice of intent to oppose introduction of the Bill came late."

In another tweet post Tharoor added: "We weren't at passage. It was just "leave to introduce the bill" that was rejected by the intolerant.They couldn't even debate!"

Tharoor, however, said that he will try again in the future. 

1/2 Intro of Pvt.Member's Bill2decriminalize consensual sex btwn consenting adults defeated in LS 71-24. Surprising to see such intolerance.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015

2/2 Notice of intent to oppose introducn of Bill came so late there was no time 2rally support. Will try again in future. We shall overcome! — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015

Twitter Reactions

Dhamini ‏@dhamini 

Pity that @ShashiTharoor bill on #sec377 was not admitted. It would've led to debates, strengthened democracy, championed human rights

harish iyer ‏@hiyer

Thank you @ShashiTharoor for all the hard work. We need you with us in future too. We have been defeated, but we will fight back. We trust u

The five substitutions in the amendment to Section 377, proposed by Tharoor, are:

"Whoever has sexual intercourse with any person under the following circumstances, is said to commit a sexual offence:

(First) – Against his will.

(Secondly) – Without the person's consent.

(Thirdly) – With the person's consent, when his consent has been obtained by putting him or any person in whom he is interested, in fear of death or hurt.

(Fourthly) – With the person's consent, when at the time of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him personally or through another of any stupefying or unwholesome substance, he is unable to understand the nature or consequences of that to which he gives consent.

(Fifthly) – With or without the person's consent when he is under eighteen years of age."