Section 377: Unlike RSS, BJP shies away from taking a stand on homosexuality

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party appeared reluctant to spell out a cohesive position on the issue of homosexuality despite its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), revising its position on the rights of sexual minorities.
While party spokespersons evaded official response to queries regarding BJP’s position on the issue of criminalisation of homosexuality, party leaders appeared to voice different opinions indicating lack of coherence in the party’s position on the issue. "Homosexuality is unnatural.

"Going against the nature is dangerous for human beings. This (homosexuality) is a criminal act. It must be stopped. For this purpose, we need Section 377 (of IPC that criminalises homosexuality)," BJP spokesperson Bizay Sonkar Shastri said advocating retention of Section 377. Shastri, however, added the "this is my personal view" suggesting lack of a clear party position on the issue.

Shastri, incidentally, has had long stint with the Vishva Hindu Parishad before he was elected a BJP MP in 1998. A dalit leader, he has written several books on various Dalit communities in India and a set of his books were launched by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in 2014, after BJP’s return to power.

In contrast to Shastri’s position, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav reiterated his opinion, where he had questioned criminalisation of homosexuality. "He (RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale) has said, no criminalisation, but no glorification either," Ram Madhav told reporters at the party headquarters, echoing the position expressed by Hosabale.

The two differing opinions and evasion of party spokespersons to give an official reaction on the issue suggested lack of clarity in the party’s position on this issue. Top party leaders have differed on the issue in the past. Prominent among them is the position of erstwhile BJP president Rajnath Singh, currently the home minister, who had termed homosexuality as "unnatural" and favoured retention of Section 377 in the statue books in 2013.

Party leader Arun Jaitley, however, had criticised the Supreme Court ruling reversing the Delhi high court order de-criminalising homosexuality and favoured reading down of Section 377 to address concerns of sexual minorities.

The lack of cohesion in BJP’s position is in stark contrast with its parent RSS which has come out devouring decriminalisation of homosexuality with a caution that it should not be glorified.