PURUSHOTHAMAN MULLOLI is General Secretary of the Joint Action Council, Kannur,
Kerala, India (JACKINDIA), a 35 years old organisation working for the health and rehabilitation of HIV-AIDS affected people. He intervened in the Naaz Foundation case challenging Section 377 of Indian Penal Code in the Delhi High Court. He started his struggle in Kannur, Kerala, but has been based in Delhi for the last 10 years to fight the battle at the national level. In an interview with SHAFAQUE ALAM he asserts that homosexuality is abnormal and appeals to the government as well as the judiciary not to lend legal sanction to this unnatural, inhuman act. Excerpts:
Homosexuals claim that Section 377 of Indian Penal Code violates their human rights. Do you agree?
I am the Respondent No. 6 in this case before the court. After eight years the judgment has come; but not even a single evidence was placed that it violates the human rights. It is a rule that in any case the High Court must be dealing with some evidences. But unfortunately in this case the Appellants did not present any evidence. Usually a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is filed by the victim of certain problems or the petitioners have enough evidences to prove that there are some injustices going on in the country. In this case neither the petitioners are victims nor do they have any evidences to show that some injustice has been done to them which violates their fundamental rights.
Homosexuals argue that they do not have the required ability to breed so they cannot marry persons of opposite sex, and by doing this they claim to have supported the movement to curb the rising population. Is there any reality in it?
What kind of population they are talking about. In the country which has already more than 100 crore population they are not helping in curbing it in any way. It is an aberration we don’t need to explain here. There are millions of people who are not producing children but they do not opt for homosexual activity. If a very small minority of the people is not going to produce children, what is the big deal about it? It is not going to make any difference in any way.
By indulging in homosexual acts, do they harm themselves physically and mentally?
This is a secondary thing. Homosexual means a sort of sexual situation which is a private thing. Even the heterosexuals have their own sexual and health problems. You should treat them in the same way.
What is the present situation in America, Britain or in other European countries which have legalised it?
As it is clear and everybody knows that they have a big problem and homosexuals are being treated as abnormal people in the West. They are not permitted to donate blood to their relatives and blood banks as it is suspected that they may be infected with HIV positive virus. So there is some sort of abnormality with them.
Some ague that it is a natural disorder due to the structure of their chromosomes; so they cannot help themselves.
Many scientific evidences have already come to light. About five years ago in India, medical science declared that homosexuality is a mental disorder. But now some of the scientific establishments have changed their views due to political interference. Now the medical community is writing something different without the scientific proofs. Scientifically it is proved that homosexuals are abnormal. But that abnormality is not treated as a disease. They are abnormal; their behaviour is abnormal, because they seek a sexual activity, which is not a part of family-based life anywhere in the world. Remember that more than 99 per cent people are against it therefore it should not be legalised or permitted.
How the media is reacting to this issue?
That is a different case altogether. It is an irony that the media is not only helping them but also promoting them and their activities. This is an unfortunate situation.
Do you think that it may become a flourishing business in India in the coming years?
Yes, there is a plan to turn India into a sex hub and we have been opposing it with all our might, because it may cause unimaginable harm to our family structure and society.
Homosexuals argue that this is not a new behaviour?
The history of homosexuality can be traced to the ancient times. It has always been regarded as an abomination and moral disorders. If we follow the same line of argument then we will have to legalise prostitution also.
What should be the role of human rights groups and religious gurus in this regard?
Actually there in no need to emphasise on the role of any groups. All religious leaders agree that this abnormality is not acceptable. In their view homosexuality is an aberration which cannot be legalised. This is why all the religious groups raised their voice against it.
Your message to the government and judiciary.
They should not legalise anything which is not suitable and appropriate to the society. It is the gay market forces planning in India and searching for a sex market and sex industry. It is dangerous to the nation. Because in the poverty stricken country like ours, if we give sanction to prostitution and homosexuality, it will be the end of societal values, which we have been cherishing for millions of years. That would be the beginning of the end of our culture, morality and humanity.