Guru blames Delhi rape victim, sparks outrage

9 Jan 2013, 7:40 am   -   Source: AFP

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A popular Indian spiritual guru has sparked a backlash after saying a 23-year-old student could have averted a murderous gang-rape by begging for mercy from her attackers.

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Self-styled godman Asharam, known to his followers as "Bapu" or father, told his devotees that blame for the assault on a moving bus in New Delhi on December 16 should not just rest with her attackers.
  
"This tragedy would not have happened if she had chanted God's name and fallen at the feet of the attackers. The error was not committed by just one side," he said in video footage which has been widely circulated on the Internet.
  
The 71-year-old's remarks -- the latest in a series of gaffes by public figures blaming women for the country's rape epidemic -- drew a chorus of condemnation.
  
Ravi Shankar Prasad, spokesman for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the statement was "deeply disturbing and painful".
  
"For him to make the statement in relation to a crime which has shocked the conscience of the country is not only unfortunate but deeply regrettable," he told reporters.
  
The Hindu newspaper said it was "a disgrace when a man of religion stoops so low".
  
"Asharam deserves to be condemned in the strongest words," the daily added in an editorial.
  
The editorial also criticised politicians from the ruling Congress party as well as the BJP for their sexist commentary on the Delhi rape and the need for Indian women to stay home and make traditional choices.
  
"Their notions of... an ideal society appear rooted in the very prejudices that have engendered a culture of violence against women, the Delhi incident being its most recent and horrific manifestation," the newspaper said.
  
Abhijit Mukherjee, the son of India's president who is a Congress lawmaker, landed himself in hot water last month after comparing women who took part in protests over the gang-rape to patched up second-hand cars.
  
Five men have been charged with rape and murder in the December 16 attack on the young student. A sixth accused, who is 17, is to be tried in a separate court for juveniles.

India Rape

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Your Comments

outraged

outraged - from Woodford, Sydney, 4 months ago

The guru is a jerk and should be thrown in jail with the rapists for supporting them. TO NEWSBABY A PEDOPHILE IS a PEDOPHILE REGARDLESS OF WHERE HE OPERATES FROM I have come across a fair number of PEDOPHILES that are protected by their wives, mothers, sisters ,children and friends and for a lot longer than fifty years so open your eyes and look around you they are not far away.

Set an example to all Rapist

Jakob - from Sydney, 4 months ago

Remember most if not all are calling this a horrendous crime as most religious and non religious young and old of India and around the world alike are calling for these rapist and others who commit these horrendous crimes to face Life imprisonment, medical castration or death by hanging So there is no reason to jump on the ''all religion is bad'' bandwagon as non religious and religious alike believe this was an unforgivable act No religion or moral code justifies what these monsters did

what is a GURU?

jj - from nsw, 4 months ago

If this man believes he is a spiritual guru...I guess women can do without him...

newsbaby

newsbaby - from cockatoo, 4 months ago

If he was a church paedophile no one would have said anything for at lest 50 years. If you allow such stupid ideas as religion to dominate societys agenda and allow its influence to penetrate into education and government for the benifit of itself and allow that influence to take hold. The attitude towards women this person is expressing and their confidence in making such a stupid statement is something you will have to live with.Religion has put itself above critisism orfault. iethey dont care

Mr

QA - from Doncaster, 4 months ago

All the religious priests (Mullahs in Islam, Priest in Christianity, and Gurus in Hinduism) are same, cruel, arrogant, unhuman. They thing the all men are superior to Women, and that men have right over women. Have seen these attitudes in the priests in every religion. Just take the case of child abuse in Churches, they thing chrches and higher admin in churches(Who have covered up these abuses) have no case to answer. Another case is of girlshot in the head in Pakistan.

Watch ur Karma

Malcolm Asche - from Airlie Beach, 4 months ago

This guy's in for it in the next life, thats for sure.

Only Gurus

Rashid - from WA, 4 months ago

How perverted are these pseudo pious people; of all Churches! What do they worship and what use are they? Why do we have them?

More Horse Manure from Religion

Simon Morgan - from Sydney, 4 months ago

It's religion that is the root cause of the inhuman treatment of this poor girl (and this cretins statement). All the main religions hold women to be subservient, some more than others. It goes without saying which is the worst of all. But human beings really have to grow up and shake the shackles of the mumbo-jumbo nonsense that is religion. We have started to get a grip in the first world. We must do everything we can to promote sanity in the rest of the world.

Sick

Mel - from Australia, 4 months ago

This makes me sick! She was NOT to blame AT ALL! God would not have saved her you idiots! Grow up, society these days is disgusting!

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