NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs and transgender rights activists on Sunday called for the withdrawal of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, saying the proposed changes could dilute the rights of the transgender community.The demand was raised during a Jan Sunwai (public discussion) held at the Press Club of India in New Delhi, where participants expressed concerns over the potential impact of the Bill on transgender persons.“If the government is not willing to withdraw it, then it should be referred to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment for reconsideration,” NCP spokesperson Anish Gawande told PTI. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said the Bill should be referred to a parliamentary standing committee for a detailed review. He said it is the responsibility of the state and the government to respect individuals for who they are.Dikshit also stressed that people should first be recognised and treated as human beings.“In our society, identity is often attacked repeatedly. The state and institutions must first treat every person as a human being, and then as a citizen. The duty of the state and Parliament is to respect individuals as they are — their identity, their choices and their sense of self — and stand by them with dignity,” Dikshit added. RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said the issue reflects a clash between constitutional morality and majoritarianism, stressing that the government should be guided by constitutional values rather than numerical strength in Parliament.He also called for a collective strategy within Parliament, urging parties across political lines to build consensus and challenge such measures.“We need to come together, both inside and outside Parliament, and build a coordinated strategy to oppose such measures,” Jha said.Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury said the transgender community would continue to resist the proposed changes and remain steadfast in its fight to protect its rights.“Even if the Bill is passed in Parliament, the fight will not end. We will continue to raise our voice and stand with the community. We are not going to be afraid. This is not an easy journey, but we have to fight it collectively,” Chowdhury said.Transgender rights activist Grace Banu pointed to the community’s long-standing struggle for recognition and dignity, warning that the proposed changes risk reversing years of hard-won progress.“For decades, we have been fighting to define our own identity. After years of struggle, self-identification was recognised, and now it is being taken away,” Banu said. “Even today, many in our community face abuse within families, social exclusion and are pushed into marginalised livelihoods,” she added. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar introduced the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on March 13.The Bill seeks to provide a precise definition of the term “transgender” and proposes graded punishments based on the severity of harm inflicted on transgender persons. It also states that a transgender person “shall not include, nor shall ever have been so included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities.”The proposed amendment to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, has drawn criticism from members of the community, who argue that it departs from the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark National Legal Services Authority vs Union of India judgment.
