Rapes happen in India, not Bharat: RSS chief
5 Jan 2013 6:33 AM IST
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday stirred a controversy with his remark that westernisation in Indian cities was the reason behind increasing rape cases, even as the country is witnessing protests over the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old Delhi woman last month.
Bhagwat, addressing a gathering of RSS workers in Assam’s Silchar, said, ‘Such crimes (rapes) hardly take place in ‘Bharat’, but they occur frequently in ‘India’.’
‘You go to villages and forests of the country and there will be no such incidents of gang rape or sex crimes. They are prevalent in some urban belts. Besides new legislations, Indian ethos and attitude towards women should be revisited in the context of ancient Indian values,’ Bhagwat said.
Following the RSS chief’s remark, union home secretary R K Singh on Friday said, ‘There is no basis for making distinction between India and Bharat.’
Criticising Bhagwat’s comment, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Brinda Karat said, ‘He does not know India or Bharat and the largest number of rapes occur in rural areas’. ‘The dalits and adivasis are the ones who mostly get raped,’ she told newspersons. Karat said the cases are reported by the media, and the RSS chief’s comment is a ‘reflection of his mentality’ of ‘turning his face away from reality’.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh said the comment of Bhagwat ‘was a reflection of their mentality. Rapes can happen anywhere. Rapes should be stopped and the strictest punishment should be meted out.’
The BJP said Bhagwat’s comments ‘should be put in perspective’.
‘He has asked for the strictest punishment for those committing crimes against women and even advocated death sentence...Woman empowerment form the core of RSS philosophy,’ said BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad. ‘His comments are required to be seen and understood in entirety. He was referring to India’s sanskar, tradition and value system where respect for women occupies a pride of place,’ BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Bhagwat, addressing a gathering of RSS workers in Assam’s Silchar, said, ‘Such crimes (rapes) hardly take place in ‘Bharat’, but they occur frequently in ‘India’.’
‘You go to villages and forests of the country and there will be no such incidents of gang rape or sex crimes. They are prevalent in some urban belts. Besides new legislations, Indian ethos and attitude towards women should be revisited in the context of ancient Indian values,’ Bhagwat said.
Following the RSS chief’s remark, union home secretary R K Singh on Friday said, ‘There is no basis for making distinction between India and Bharat.’
Criticising Bhagwat’s comment, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Brinda Karat said, ‘He does not know India or Bharat and the largest number of rapes occur in rural areas’. ‘The dalits and adivasis are the ones who mostly get raped,’ she told newspersons. Karat said the cases are reported by the media, and the RSS chief’s comment is a ‘reflection of his mentality’ of ‘turning his face away from reality’.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh said the comment of Bhagwat ‘was a reflection of their mentality. Rapes can happen anywhere. Rapes should be stopped and the strictest punishment should be meted out.’
The BJP said Bhagwat’s comments ‘should be put in perspective’.
‘He has asked for the strictest punishment for those committing crimes against women and even advocated death sentence...Woman empowerment form the core of RSS philosophy,’ said BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad. ‘His comments are required to be seen and understood in entirety. He was referring to India’s sanskar, tradition and value system where respect for women occupies a pride of place,’ BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
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