The RSS chief's controversial remark comes days after the Dec 29 death of the young Delhi woman due to grievous injuries during her torture by the rapists on board a moving bus Dec 16.
The incident has led to loud protests in Delhi and elsewhere and demand for justice for the woman, stringent anti-rape laws and more security.
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".
