The opposition on Tuesday strongly condemned Maharashtra Health Minister Deepak Sawant's statement advocating 'psychological treatment' for the LGBT community, urging him to direct his time and energy towards the development of the state rather than creating unnecessary controversies.
Terming the statement as 'unwarranted', Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon said that Sawant's remarks had betrayed the 'ignorance' of ministers on the matter.
"Such statements by ministers only show their ignorance. They are unnecessarily creating controversies when they should be directing their time and energy towards the issues which are pending and for the development of Maharashtra. This statement is absolutely unwarranted and uncalled for," Memon told ANI.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari took a dig at Sawant and said that the latter needs a 'psychiatric counseling' for making such a statement.
"Someone who feels that the LGBT community requires 'psychological treatment', possibly himself requires psychiatric counseling," Tewari said.
On Monday, Sawant, while speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly, said that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders were in need of psychological treatment and counseling.
Sawant said this while responding to a query seeking to know the government's action plan to contain the transmission of HIV among the LGBT community.