Bipin Rawat, the Chief General of the Indian Army, today, during his annual press conference, said, the Indian Army will follow its own homosexuality laws and will not follow the verdict of the Supreme Court (SC) regarding Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC.)
Mr. Rawat said, he respects the verdict given by the SC, but certain things are different for the Indian Army.
Mr. Rawat made a statement, “We will not allow this to happen in the Army. We are not above the country’s law but when you join the Indian Army, some of the rights and privileges you enjoy are not what we have. Some things are different for us.” He further said, such actions are forbidden in the army.
At the press conference, Bipin Rawat also spoke about the adultery law (Section 497) of the IPC and said, “We can’t allow it to perpetrate into the Army.”
In 2018, the Supreme Court scrapped out Section 377 of the IPC, thereby decriminalising homosexuality. The SC, during the same year, also eliminated Section 497 of the IPC, a decision which declares, adultery is unconstitutional.
General Rawat’s remarks about adultery and homosexuality drew a lot of criticism on social media platforms. The Indian public took to Twitter and expressed their views about General Rawat’s remarks.
#BipinRawat should keep his mouth shut. He lacks basic intelligence to talk sensible stuff. Amazing that such people reach top post in India.
— FirstCitizen (@iFirstCitizen) January 10, 2019
In Heavy Loaded Press Conference, #ArmyChief Gen #BipinRawat also appreciated @crpfindia valley #Drivers who with all precaution protect @crpf_srinagar personal and #civil and #stonepelters too.@CRPFmadadgaar @dhinakaran1464 pic.twitter.com/nEB6rKq1Uj
— manish prasad (@followmkp) January 10, 2019
Army Chief #BipinRawat indicates that #SupremeCourt ruling decriminalising #Section377 will not apply to the military.
“We won’t allow this to perpetuate in the army and the #LGBT issue is not acceptable to us,”@MenakaGuruswamy @arundhatikatju @keshav_suri pic.twitter.com/jQxPQwwKz0— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) January 10, 2019
