Gay sex not a crime, says RSS

NEW DELHI: A day after categorically saying that gay sex is not a crime, a top RSS leader on Friday clarified that while it's not a crime, he believes homosexuality is a "socially immoral" act that needs to be treated psychologically rather than punitively."Homosexuality is not a crime, but socially immoral act in our society. No need to punish but be treated as a psychological case," RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale tweeted on Friday.To make it perfectly clear, he added: "Approach to homosexuality should be 'no criminalisation; no glorification either' ".As for gay marriage, "it should be prohibited" because marriage is "institutionalisation'' of homosexuality.At the India Today Conclave held on Thursday, Hosabale wondered aloud about why the RSS should have an opinion on gay sex."Why should RSS have an opinion on homosexuality? It is not a crime as long as it does not affect the lives of others. Sexual preferences are personal issues," he said.Hosabale's comments from Thursday likely raised hopes that the Centre might consider revoking Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that says homosexuality is a punishable crime.The BJP has acted contrary to its ideological mentor and voted twice against a bill decriminalizing gay sex.In fact, Ram Madhav, currently a BJP general secretary, has said in the past that irrespective of one's views on homosexuality, it is highly debatable where it constituted a crime.