LGBT community's struggle and victory inspiration to us to continue our fight: Activist's partner

The Supreme Court verdict, which said gay sex among consenting adults is not a criminal offence, has given us a "ray of hope" to continue our struggle against injustice, partner of Gautam Navlakha, Sabah Husain, one of the five activists who has been under house arrest in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence said Thursday.

On a day when the apex court extended the house arrest of five rights activists, including Navlakha till September 12, Husain said the struggle of LGBT community and today's victory is an inspiration for her and her partner to continue their fight for justice.

She compared the struggle which the LGBTQ community underwent before the Supreme Court verdict to the one they have been going through.

Husain pointed to the barricades placed outside her Nehru Enclave residence, asserting those were her new meeting point.

"Just as we were waiting for a verdict for all of us, the Supreme Court gave the most historic judgement on decriminalising homosexuality. It is a moment of pride for all of us. Gautam and I feel this has been possible due to the relentless struggle and campaign of the LGBTQ community," she told PTI.

She said Gautam saluted the spirit of the LGBTQ community and the comrades who have fought all these years.

"Their struggle and today's victory is an inspiration for us to continue our fight for justice. We have learnt a lot from their persistence and perseverance and resistance," she added.

On the forthcoming verdict, Husain said "...We will wait as patiently as we have done till now and see what happens on September 12".

She claimed Gautam has not been able to meet his family after his house arrest.

However, they are able to interact with each other freely as there is no police presence inside the house, she said.

Maharashtra police had raided the homes of prominent Left-wing activists in several states and arrested them, sparking a chorus of protests from human rights activists.

The raids were carried out as part of a probe into the violence between Dalits and the upper caste Peshwas at Koregaon-Bhima village near Pune after an event called Elgar Parishad, or conclave, on December 31, 2017.