MUMBAI: A cross-spectrum of human rights activists from South Asia have welcomed the softening in the RSS ’s stand on homosexuality , a day after TOI reported the matter.

Commenting on the Section 377, an archaic British-era law that criminalizes homosexuality, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav had said, “While certain social behaviour does not need to be glorified, it is debatable if it should be considered a crime.”

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen tweeted in support of the shift in the RSS’s stance on queer rights, calling it a great decision.

The recent statement by the RSS is welcome in light of the BJP and RSS’s silence on the issue a few months ago, says Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director, Human Rights Watch, adding that several other parties, including the Congress, had openly opposed the SC verdict. “The BJP has the numbers in Parliament right now and should immediately work towards amending the law,” said Ganguly.

“The RSS spokesperson’s statement is a welcome sign that the organization recognizes the regressive nature of Section 377. The new government should also recognize, as the Delhi High Court did in 2009, that the criminalization of same-sex relations between consenting adults is discriminatory and violates the rights to equality, privacy and dignity set forth in the Constitution,” said Shashikumar Velath, programmes director, Amnesty International India.

Navaz Kotwal of the Commonwealth Human Rights said, “If Narendra Modi wants to put India on the international map, not just as an economic superpower but on areas such as civil liberties and human rights, he needs to tackle issues such as the criminalization of homosexuality,” she added.

“All of us who are part of the LGBT community would be happy with a forward-thinking statement by the BJP or any organization associated with it,” said Sridhar Rangayan, director of Kashish, South Asia’s largest queer film festival.

“We need to hear the right statements from the BJP before we believe that change will take place,” he added.

