BJP ambivalent on homosexuality law, says debate not yet over

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday suggested that its stand on the Supreme Court judgement on Section 377 of IPC which upheld criminality of homosexual relations is still open, saying the debate over the issue is not yet over.

"If you look at the issue, I don't think the debate is still over.... The court has upheld the validity of the Section. What is covered under the Section and what is not, there is ambiguity. So let the government go and exhaust that," Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said at a FICCI Ladies Organisation event.

His comments came hours before the government moved the apex court seeking a review of its order.

Jaitley was replying to a question over his party's stand against homosexuality and in support of the apex court order despite opposition to it from a large section, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.

BJP chief chief Rajnath Singh and several other party leaders had welcomed the Supreme Court order saying the party will not support anything "unnatural".

Jaitley said Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, had made it clear that the party would take a stand after government comes out with a decision first.

Centre on Friday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on its order reinstating law criminalising homosexuality with Law Minister Kapil Sibal hoping that "right of personal choices" is preserved.