'Not now', says Shinde on issuing ordinance on 377

The government on Saturday said it did not plan to issue an ordinance on gay rights issue "now" to negate the Supreme Court judgement on homosexuality that has sparked an uproar. "Not now. Our (Congress) Vice-President and President have already spoken on the issue. I am with them," Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Shinde was responding to a query whether the government would opt for the ordinance route to nullify the apex court judgement which had overturned a landmark Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising consensual sex among gay adults. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi were quick to come out against the Supreme Court order giving vent to their disappointment over it.

Rahul Gandhi had said he agrees with the Delhi High Court. "I personally believe that these are matters of personal freedom. I think, I would agree more with High Court verdict," he had said. Taking a clear stand, Sonia Gandhi too had said she was disappointed that the apex court had reversed the Delhi High Court judgement.

"I hope that 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," the UPA Chairperson had said.

The government has promised steps to overturn the apex court verdict amid indications that various options, including ordinance and filing a curative petition or a review plea, were being weighed.