Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Legalising same-sex marriage will shake India's cultural roots: RSS

The organisation argues that such a move would not only impact the upbringing of children raised by same-sex parents but also have a significant influence on the younger generation

Legalising same-sex marriage will shake India's cultural roots: RSS

An affiliate of the women's wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organisation, Samwardhini Nyas, has written a letter to the Indian Supreme Court expressing its apprehensions about the potential consequences of legalising same-sex marriage.

According to the letter, legalising same-sex marriage would contradict the purpose of the Hindu Marriage Act and demonstrate the dominance of liberal ideologies from other religions and Western countries over India, thereby affecting the “nature of Hinduism".


The organisation seeks to highlight the "devastating effects" that such a decision could have on India's cultural roots and society, warning that it could disrupt the existing order of things turn "everything upside down".

In the letter submitted to the authorities, an affiliate of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti has expressed concerns about the potential consequences of granting legal recognition to same-sex marriage.

The organisation argues that such a move would not only impact the upbringing and development of children raised by same-sex parents but also have a significant influence on the younger generation. The letter addresses various other related issues, highlighting the potential effects on society as a whole.

"Legalising same-sex marriage will vanish the very meaning, motive or belief of the Hindu Marriage Act, clearly depicting how liberal thoughts of other religions or western countries are overpowering our country and affecting the nature of Hinduism," Shweta Sharma, the legal advisor to Samvardhini Nyas, wrote in the letter addressed to the Supreme Court's registrar.

"Bringing any such change or even accepting such relationships will shake the cultural roots of India and the Indian society," she added.

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, is currently hearing a series of petitions that seek legal recognition for same-sex marriage.

In the ongoing proceedings, Sharma, representing the opposing viewpoint, emphasized that the institution of marriage and its associated rights have undergone evolutionary changes over time.

She argued that altering the traditional definition of marriage would directly contradict the fundamental principles deeply rooted in the country's beliefs and values.

According to her, legalising same-sex marriage would be in conflict with religious and cultural norms, as marriage, in their view, is intended to be a union between a man and a woman rather than between individuals of the same sex.

Sharma asserted that numerous international studies and articles have purportedly demonstrated a greater likelihood of mental and psychological issues among children raised in same-sex families.

She emphasised the significance of acknowledging that children often mirror their parents, underscoring the vigilance with which parents approach their actions in order to safeguard their child's mental well-being.

"Thus, watching the parents accepting same-sex marriage will affect the mind of the children and they will not consider it as a taboo. In fact, they themselves will go for same-sex marriage, normalising it, and lose the difference and importance of opposite-sex marriage," Sharma added.

The children raised by same-sex parents will have a "limited exposure" to "traditional gender roles", she claimed, adding that it will also impact their understanding of "gender roles and gender identity".

Sharma expressed her belief that legalising same-sex marriage would have detrimental effects on the development and character of children raised by same-sex couples, and she also claimed it would greatly impact the youth of the country. She urged the court to take into account the raised points.

In response, several LGBTQ rights activists criticised a survey conducted by Samwardhini Nyas on same-sex marriage, considering it "dangerous and misleading."

They accused the RSS-affiliate of spreading disinformation.

The survey conducted by Samwardhini Nyas suggested that several doctors and allied medical professionals view homosexuality as a "disorder" and predict a rise in its prevalence if same-sex marriage is legalised.

The activists strongly condemned the study, deeming it dangerous and misleading for an uninformed society. They also questioned the credibility of the doctors involved in the survey and called for the cancellation of their licenses.

Additionally, Subhashini Ali, an activist and leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), criticised the survey, describing it as "idiotic," "unscientific," and "inhuman."

(PTI)

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less