Congress hails top court ruling; RSS says it agrees with verdict

Agreeing with the Supreme Court’s views, the RSS on Thursday said it also does not consider homosexuality a crime but maintained that it does not support same-sex marriage as it is "not natural".

The Congress hailed as "momentous" the top court’s verdict decriminalising consensual gay sex and termed it as an important step towards a liberal and tolerant society.

RSS prachar pramukh Arun Kumar, in a statement , said, "Like the Supreme Court’s verdict, we also do not consider this (homosexuality) as a crime." Mr Kumar, however, reiterated the Sangh’s old stand that gay marriages and such relationships are not "compatible with nature".

"These relationships are not natural, so we do not support this kind of relationships," Mr Kumar said.

The RSS claimed that Indian society "traditionally does not recognise" such relations. "Humans usually learn from experiences, so this topic needs to be discussed and handled at the social and psychological level."

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 in a tweet.

On its official Twitter handle, the Congress said, "We join the people of India & the LGBTIA+ 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."

Earlier, tthe apex court noted that India is a signatory of international treaties on rights of LGBT and it was obligatory to adhere to them.

CONGRESS CHIEF spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the ageold colonial law was an anachronism in today’s modern times.