New Delhi, Jan 4: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Friday stirred a controversy with his remark that westernization in Indian cities was the reason behind increasing rape cases as the country is witnessing widespread protests over the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old Delhi woman last month.
Bhagwat, addressing a gathering of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (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 Friday said there is no basis for making distinction between India and Bharat.
"There is no basis for making distinction between India and Bharat," Singh said when asked to comment on Bhagwat's remark.
Singh was speaking on the sidelines of a function 'Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System' here.
