Indian MP, Shashi Tharoor’s bid to introduce a private member’s bill in the parliament to decriminalise gay sex has been rejected.

Shashi Tharoor attempted to amend Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, saying it “violates the fundamental rights” gay people in India – however it was rejected.

Currently, the 150 year-old law states that sex acts between men is an “unnatural offence” and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

In 2009, gay sex was decriminalised in the deeply conservative country – only for the decision to be reversed by the Indian Supreme Court in 2013.

Tharoor wrote on political site the Quint that “it is time to bring the Indian Penal Code into the 21st century”.
“Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860, and criminalises ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’ – a term so archaic that it would invite derision in most modern societies,” he wrote.

The MP tweeted his disappointment with the outcome, but promised that he would not stop fighting for equality.

1/2 Intro of Pvt.Member’s Bill2decriminalize consensual sex btwn consenting adults defeated in LS 71-24. Surprising to see such intolerance.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015

2/2 Notice of intent to oppose introducn of Bill came so late there was no time 2rally support. Will try again in future. We shall overcome!

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015