circumcision india

NEW DELHI: Fear of raking up a communal controversy has made the health ministry keep mum about an international study which suggests that circumcised men are less prone to HIV infection. 

While the study - which says HIV rates among those not circumcised are two to eight times higher than in those groups which practice circumcision - may have a significant bearing on the country's AIDS-prevention programme, government seems to be keeping a distance from it lest it is accused of 'appeasement.' 

Conducted by France's National AIDS Research Agency in South Africa between 2002 and 2005, findings of the study were made public on July 26 at the 3rd International AIDS conference on HIV treatment in Rio de Janeiro. 

Indian officials, who were present at the conference, agree that circumcision is a hygienic practice but they are loath to be seen as endorsing it because of its strong association with Muslims. 

Speaking to TOI, a senior official conceded as much: "Over 25% of people in Europe go for circumcision for protection against AIDS. But in India, we cannot encourage it because of its association with Muslims. Leave alone implementing it, even agreeing with the study would mean being attacked by Hindus. Then, we also don't want to make the bulk of the Muslim population feel that they can be safe with unprotected sex." 

Ministry officials refer to the experience of Richard Feachem, executive director of Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS. 

Recently, Feachem received thousands of hate mails when he made a statement in Paris, backed by a study, that he expected the epidemic to grow faster among Hindus because they didn't practise circumcision. One sharp reaction had come from BP Singhal of the BJP. 

"This is obnoxious. We are not going to tolerate such remarks made against Hindus," Singhal had said in protest against Feachem's remark. 

Even health minister A Ramadoss received ...