Skip to main content

Hindutva votaries criticize Ramdev, support LGBT rights, say Hinduism "never opposed" homosexuality

By A Representative
Baba Ramdev calling homosexuality a "disease" and a “mental disorder” against the backdrop of the gruesome killings in Orlando, in which 49 were killed, has sparked a row among some of the most well-known votaries of Hindutva joining those who stand by LGBT rights.
While top journalist Burkha Dutt (@bdutt), soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment expressing shock at Orlando killings, said, "Our empathy more meaningful if we at least scrap 377", who who has sharply criticised Ramdev is Rupa Subramanya ‏(@rupasubramanya), a top Dutt critic, who has been involved in incessant arguments on twitter with her.
Section 377 of Indian Penal Code, a colonial era law, calls homosexuality an "unnatural offence", explaining as, "Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine."
In reply to a query posed by Counterview on Twitter on what she thought of Ramdev's view that homosexuality is a disease, Subramanya, an economist and a commentator, apart from being a prolific twitteratti, hsaid "Is Ramdev the Jesus/Prophet Mo of Hinduism? Referring to Hindu scriptures to justify his homophobia? Get your head out of your ass."
Subramanya retweeted someone who said, "I support gay rights and wish to see homosexuality decriminalised. But that won't prevent Islamist from killing gays", adding elsewhere, "A top Saudi cleric in May 2016 said 'Homosexuality not a deviation from Islam, should not be punished'." The Orlando shooter
is known to have called himself an ISIS supporter.
While some of Subramanya's prolific followers, who are not a few, tried to justify Ramdev saying, "To his credit, Ramdev only talks about homosexuality being curable" ‏(@ParinVShah), others declared, "Ramdev is not even respected by most Hindus" (‏@Kunthavi5) calling her rhetoric "moronic".
Another Hindutva votary Girish Saxena (‏@Girish_Saxena_), speaking in the context of the LGTB row, advised those who site Ramdev's example as a Hindutva sample, "Referring to Hinduism thy won't refer Vivekanand, Aurobindo, Vedas, Geeta but they refer to Sadhvi Prachi."
Saxena did not stop here. He advised those who oppose lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights to "visit Khajuraho and other temples, read books”, even as asking Baba Ramdev to "never give any statement who is homophobic." He further said, "In India, in last 5.000 yrs there's not a single incident where a LGBT is killed just because he's a LGBT."
One of the top supporters of  LGBT rights in the Modi Cabinet is known to be Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who had caused a stir on saying, "When millions of people the world over are having alternative sexual preferences, it is too late in the day to propound a view that they should be jailed. The Delhi High Court's view appears more acceptable," he said.
Jaitley was referring to the 2009 Delhi High Court judgment which called Article 377 unconstitutional. The judgment was overturned by the Supreme Court, which said it was Parliament's prerogative to repeal or not repeal Section 377 of te IPC.
Divisions among the Hindutva enthusiasts on LGBT are not new. There have been sharp differences on the subject even within the RSS.
Earlier this year, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, declared “homosexuality should not be a crime”, though apparently under pressure, he later amended that comment by saying it was a "socially immoral act" that should be treated as a "psychological" case – a view held by Ramdev, too.

Comments

TRENDING

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor*  A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas*  Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative   A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman*   The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.