No urgency in legalizing euthanasia, says Arunachal Pradesh minister

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Health &Family Welfare Minister Kalikho Pul on Wednesday said there was no urgency to legalise euthanasia as the issue was not Arunachal specific but a national one.

People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) legislature party leader P D Sona raised the issue during the zero hour in the Assembly, quoting the Supreme Court's directives for a country-wide debate.

Responding to it, Pul said, "The Supreme Court has directed the Centre as well as the state governments only for debate involving all sections of the society. It will take time and there is no urgency."

Read: Supreme Court issues notice to states, Union Territories on legalising passive euthanasia

Stating that Euthanasia was a centuries-old issue and the government of India was opposing it, he said mercy killing had both positive and negative sides.

"It will be possible only through the conscience of terminal patients and their family members. Patients should be given liberty to make own choice," the minister added.

Earlier raising the issue, Sona called for an adjournment motion for a detailed debate on the issue saying countries like Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Netherlands have made it legal.

However, Speaker Nabam Rebia did not allow it.