Lifestyle choice cannot be illegal, Omar Abdullah on SC verdict

SRINAGAR: Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict upholding section 377 of IPC, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said a lifestyle choice cannot be illegal.

"People can take whatever stand their religious/moral beliefs dictate regarding #LGBT lifestyle choices but is terming it illegal not wrong?" Omar wrote on Twitter.com

The chief minister said it was not a question of morality or religion, but that a lifestyle choice cannot be illegal.

"Questions of morality or religion are not the issue. How can a lifestyle choice be illegal? SC removes red lights for equality yet not #377," he said.

The apex court today upheld the constitutional validity of the penal provision making gay sex an offence punishable with upto life imprisonment.