Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Another irresponsible statement) that was published in Newsband

Another irresponsible statement

Asaram Bapu’s statement that the 23-year old woman who died after being gang-raped in Delhi was as much at fault as her offenders is shameful. Asaram Bapu is supposed to be a spiritual guru. He is seen as a role model by his huge fans. He is supposed to be a man who has committed to public service and the betterment of society. He can’t afford to be so prejudiced. Such statements coming from important people are what give birth to a culture of violence against women. The Delhi incident is a case in point.

If politicians, social leaders and godmen begin making such statements on sensitive issues, what will happen to the country? They should show at least some regard for the young life that was so cruelly and so needlessly extinguished.

Violence against women is more in rural India with its worst victims drawn from the lowest rungs of the economic and caste ladder.

Asaram Bapu says that the Delhi woman virtually invited the rape. According to him a mistake is not committed by just one side and that the victim should have sought refuge in prayer and begged her offenders to stop. How can a man of religion stoop so low so as to make such a statement?

All men are born and grow up to become strong because of the huge contributions made by their mothers. No man has come into this world without the contribution of a mother. All girls are potential mothers. We have to protect them by keeping this in mind.

The comments passed by politicians and so called religious gurus are illogical. What is more painful is that there are educated people and those from respectable families who support Gender Bias.

It is the need of the hour to educate our politicians. Enough are the great reforms and plans they have put successfully on papers and failed in real life. We need to make amendments in the constitution for all the contestants of election to have degree or graduation as the minimum education level.

The judiciary, employees of government, executives got their jobs only because they were academically qualified for their respective posts. Then why shouldn’t we expect our rulers to have certain academic qualifications to qualify to be leaders?