- Title: INDIA: Outrage as Indian guru says rape victim should have begged for mercy
- Date: 8th January 2013
- Summary: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL PANDHARPUR, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (JANUARY 08, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) INDIAN GURU ASARAM BAPU, STANDING ON A PODIUM AT A CONGREGATION OF HIS FOLLOWERS PEOPLE SEATED MORE PEOPLE LOOKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN GURU ASARAM BAPU, SAYING: "What can I do if somebody telecast my statements after distorting it? I heard (the media saying) it will be filled with admiration for you (media) if you telecast my 15 minutes discourse. I don't want to get into this controversy." JAMMU, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA (JANUARY 08, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) SENIOR LEADER OF THE INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, KARAT SINGH, ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SENIOR LEADER OF THE INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, KARAT SINGH, SAYING: "The real meaning of the word 'Guru' (spiritual leader) is one, who dispels darkness. You can judge by yourself whether he is spreading darkness or dispelling it. Every 'Guru' is not bad. There are good gurus also. Such comments like the one by Asaram Bapu are unfortunate." NEW DELHI, INDIA (JANUARY 08, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CHAIRPERSON OF INDIA'S NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN, MAMATA SHARMA, SAYING: "The comments that have been made are insensitive toward girls of the country. The people of this country are already agitated after such a heinous crime." PEOPLE PROTESTING BAPU PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS AGAINST BAPU PEOPLE HOLDING AN EFFIGY OF BAPU PROTESTERS RAISING SLOGANS MORE OF PROTESTERS RAISING SLOGANS AGAINST BAPU PEOPLE HOLDING THE EFFIGY PROTESTERS RAISING SLOGANS AGAINST BAPU PEOPLE HOLDING PLACARDS PROTESTERS BURNING THE EFFIGY
- Embargoed: 23rd January 2013 20:58
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Crime,Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAB4MCKGQ0MEXOQ48WEOX45SFR3
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: An Indian spiritual leader says recorded comments of him suggesting the Indian woman who was gang-raped and killed in New Delhi could have done more to stop the attack are being taken out of context.
An Indian spiritual leader sought to downplay a growing furore following reported remarks he made about the gang rape and killing of a 23-year-old New Delhi student.
Speaking to journalists at the temple town of Pandharpur in western state of Maharashtra on Tuesday (January 08), Asaram Bapu denied of having a statements attributed to him.
Reportedly, Bapu is alleged to have said that the woman was also partially responsible for the attack.
Video clips of Bapu appeared on the Internet with him saying the woman should have
addressed her attackers as brothers and begged them to stop physically assaulting her.
"What can I do if somebody broadcast my statements after distorting them? I heard (the media saying) it will be filled with admiration for you (media) if you telecast my 15 minutes discourse. I don't want to get into this controversy," said the self-proclaimed Indian "god-man" Bapu.
The furore comes as India reels from the days of protest following the death of the physiotherapy student
The clips passed on via social media led to condemnation by politicians and street protests.
A senior leader of the India's ruling Congress Party, Karat Singh termed Asaram's remarks as unfortunate.
"The real meaning of the word 'Guru' (spiritual leader) is one, who dispels darkness. You can judge by yourself whether he is spreading darkness or dispelling it. Every 'Guru' is not bad. There are good gurus also. Such comments like the one by Asaram Bapu are unfortunate," said Kartar Singh.
In New Delhi, the Chairperson of India's National Commission for Women, Mamata Sharma condemned the remarks.
"The comments that have been made are insensitive toward girls of the country. The people of this country are already agitated after such a heinous crime," said NCW Chairperson, Mamata Sharma in the national capital.
The physiotherapy student was raped and assaulted in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012.
She died due to her injuries on December 29 in a Singapore hospital, prompting assurances of action from a government that has struggled to respond to public outrage after thousands stages demonstrations calling for better protection for women. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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