While millions of celebrated the historic verdict made by the Supreme Court by scrapping a part of 157-year-old Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and ended the ban on sex between consenting adults, the RSS seconded that homosexuality is not a crime. Albeit the Sangh said it does not support “this kind of relationship”.
The organization, which is the mentor of different pro-Hindu grounds in the nation that are counted to be “Sangh Parivar”, has always countered homosexuality.
Today it did not mind abstain from going against the wave but its statement of support of Supreme Court’s judgement was viewed to be a momentous shift as Arun Kumar, the All India Campaign chief for RSS said, “Like the Supreme Court’s verdict, we do not even consider this a crime”.
He further said, “Gay marriage and relationship are not compatible with nature and are not natural, so we do not support this kind of relationship. Traditionally, India’s society also does not recognize such relations”.
He felt that it was imperative to take the subject up at a psychological and social level as “humans generally learn from experiences.”
Earlier in 2016, senior RSS leader, Dattatreya Hosabale got a number of eyebrows raised when he responded to the reporters’ questions saying that one’s sexual preference cannot be termed as a crime. He said, “I don’t think homosexuality should be considered a criminal offence as long as it does not affect the lives of others in society. Sexual preferences are private and personal”.
However, the very next day, he stepped back and posted a tweet saying: “Homosexuality is not a crime, but socially immoral act in our society. No need to punish, but to be treated as a psychological case.”
In a landmark judgement passed on by the Supreme Court, it struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and other four judges decriminalised homosexuality and gay sex in consenting adults.
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