Mangaluru: Days after the union government left the decision on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to the wisdom of Supreme Court, transgender activist Dr. Akkai Padmashali termed Centre’s decision as the “direct escapism of the state.”
Dr. Akkai Padmashali was speaking at the release of a report on,”Domestic and Sexual Violence: Claiming Voice, Rights, and Dignity-A Gender Non-Confirming, Transgender and Sexual Minorities Lens on Love, Life, and Laws”,organised by the ONDEDE and Swatantra (Bangalore), in collaboration with the MSW Department of St. Aloysius College at the Eric Mathias Hall in St Aloysius College, Mangalore on July 13.
Dr. Akkai Padmashali is one of the petitioners who challenged the IPC 377 before the court.
Speaking on IPC section 377 which criminalizes “unnatural sex” and in effect deems homosexual sex a criminal offense, Padmashali said, “The union government leaves it to the constitutional bench of Supreme Court. It is nothing but a direct escapism of the state. The government cannot escape. You (Union government) have multiple responsibilities, especially in the context of the most vulnerable and oppressed sections”, she added.
She also questioned as to why the Narendra Modi government was so silent on the issues of sexuality and gender. “Union government says something in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, but you are not speaking and the rights of privacy and dignity are totally undermined”, she accused.
“The rape and sexual violence are still happening against gender minorities. Hence the organization ONDEDE speaks of the dignity, voice, sexuality of gender minorities and focus on the core subject particularly that of the sexual violence and domestic violence and rights of sexuality for transgenders”, Padmashali said.
Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil released the report.
Activist Vidhya Dinkar moderated the programme. Principal of St. Aloysius College Fr. Dr. Praveen Martis and transgender Sanjana were present in the programme.
