LGBTQIA+ Milestone: Cong’s Trailblazing Civil Union Law

In the sphere of political discourse, the Congress delineated its intention on Friday, stipulating that should it ascend to power at the helm of the nation, it would enact legislation to validate the civil unions of couples within the LGBTQIA+ community subsequent to extensive consultations. Articulated within its manifesto for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the opposition party also avowed its commitment to fostering reforms within personal jurisprudence, albeit stressing the requisite for such transformations to transpire in consonance with the concurrence of the affected communities.

The Congress’s espousal of reform within personal jurisprudence, contingent upon community consent, surfaces against the backdrop of a fervent advocacy by the reigning Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the promulgation of a Uniform Civil Code. Additionally, the Congress pledged to safeguard and champion the inviolable entitlement to the exercise of one’s religious convictions, as well as the prerogatives enshrined for religious minorities under articles 15, 16, 25, 26, 28, 29, and 30 of the Constitution.

Following meticulous deliberations, the manifesto articulated, “Subsequent to extensive consultations, the Congress shall institute legislation recognizing civil unions within the LGBTQIA+ community.” Expounding upon the acronym, LGBTQIA, the manifesto elucidated its denotation, encompassing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual identities, with the additional “+” symbolizing identities beyond those succinctly delineated.

Furthermore, the Congress declared its commitment to safeguarding and advancing the entitlements of linguistic minorities, as enshrined within Articles 15, 16, 29, and 30 of the Constitution. The party additionally pledged to facilitate and empower students and youth from minority communities to fully harness burgeoning opportunities across domains spanning education, employment, entrepreneurship, public service, athletics, artistic pursuits, and various other spheres.

“In addition, we shall reinstate the Maulana Azad Scholarships for overseas study endeavors and augment the scholarship quota,” the manifesto proclaimed. Recognizing economic empowerment as a pivotal stride towards realizing India’s holistic potential, the Congress affirmed its resolve to ensure equitable access to institutional credit for minorities sans discrimination by financial institutions.

“We shall guarantee equitable access for minorities to educational, healthcare, public employment, public infrastructure projects, vocational training, athletic pursuits, and cultural engagements,” the party asserted. Emphasizing the fundamental right of minorities to exercise freedom of attire, cuisine, dialect, and personal jurisprudence, the Congress underscored its commitment to upholding these liberties on par with every citizen of the nation.

Moreover, the Congress vowed to catalyze the process of reforming personal laws, advocating for a participatory approach necessitating the consent of affected communities. Notably, the party undertook to address longstanding demands for the inclusion of additional languages within the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

The manifesto, delineating its vision around five “pillars of justice” encapsulating 25 assurances therein, was unveiled at the AICC headquarters in the esteemed presence of Congress luminaries including President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party stalwarts Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The Lok Sabha elections, slated across seven phases commencing April 19, will culminate in the tabulation of votes on June 4.