New Delhi:
Homosexuality is not a crime, the RSS said Thursday, while maintaining that it does not support same-sex marriage as it was “not natural”.
The comments came on a day the Supreme Court unanimously decriminalised part of Section 377, which criminalises consensual unnatural sex, saying it violated the rights to equality.
“Like the Supreme Court’s verdict, we also do not consider this (homosexuality) as a crime,” Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ‘prachar pramukh’ Arun Kumar said in a statement. ‘Prachar pramukh’ is the designated spokesperson of the Sangh.
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However, he maintained the Sangh’s old stand and said gay marriage and such relationships were not “compatible with nature”. “These relationships are not natural, so we do not support this kind of relationship.”
He claimed that Indian society “traditionally does not recognise” such relations. Humans usually learn from experiences, so this topic needs to be discussed and handled the social and psychological level, Kumar added.
On the other hand, Indian National Congress (INC) Thursday hailed as “momentous” the Supreme Court verdict decriminalising consensual gay sex and termed it as an important step forward towards a liberal and tolerant society.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the age-old colonial law was an anachronism in today’s modern times and the verdict restores the fundamental rights and negates discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“Supreme Court verdict on Section 377 is momentous.
“An age-old colonial law, that was an anachronism in today’s modern times, ends restoring the fundamental rights and negating discrimination based on sexual orientation. It’s an important step forward towards a liberal, tolerant society,” he said on Twitter.
On its official Twitter handle, the Congress said, “We join the people of India & the LGBTQIA+ community in their victory over prejudice.”
We join the people of India & the LGBTQIA+ community in their victory over prejudice. We welcome the progressive & decisive verdict from the Supreme Court & hope this is the beginning of a more equal & inclusive society. #Section377 pic.twitter.com/Fh65vOn7h9
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2018
(With inputs from PTI)
Also Read: One More Step Away From Majoritarianism: Supreme Court Says Gay Sex Not Illegal