Delhi Gang-Rape Victim As Guilty As Attackers, Says Asaram Bapu

Spiritual guru Asaram Bapu has made a bold assertion that a Delhi gang-rape victim is as guilty as her attackers. This proclamation comes as the world is still mourning the death of the 23-year-old victim.

The victim was allegedly raped while riding a bus on December 16 last year. According to authorities, the young woman was reportedly raped by six men, who in addition to raping her assaulted her with an iron rod.

She survived 13 days. On December 29, she passed away in a Singapore hospital.

The accused rapists have been formally charged under the Indian Penal Code with murder, gang-rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offenses, dacoity, hurting in committing robbery, destruction of evidence, criminal conspiracy, and common intention, according to India Times.

If convicted, five of the accused will be sentenced to death by hanging. The punishment for the sixth perpetrator is unclear as he is a juvenile and will be processed through the Juvenile Justice Board.

Spiritual leader Asaram Bapu asserts that the victim was equally responsible for the attack. In an address to his followers, according to The Hindu Businessline, Bapu stated the following:

“She should have taken God’s name and could have held the hand of one of the men and said I consider you as my brother and should have said to the other two ‘Brother I am helpless, you are my brother, my religious brother.’ She should have taken God’s name and held their hands and feet. Then the misconduct wouldn’t have happened. Galti ek taraf se nahi hoti hai (mistake is not committed from one side). The accused were drunk. If the girl had chanted hymns to Goddess Saraswati and to Guru Diksha then she wouldn’t have entered the bus.”

A spokesman for the guru said that the spiritual leader was simply pointing out how religious mantras to the Gods could have protected her and may have saved her life.

The victim’s name has not been released out of respect for her memory and her family.