Western culture to blame for rapes: SP leader

"Young girls and women must not roam around with any men except their parents, brothers or husband," Azmi said here.

"Having boyfriends and girlfriends has become a fashion in cities. This is why incidence of rapes is higher in urban areas compared to rural parts of the country," he added.

Azmi endorsed RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat, who last week expressed similar sentiments.

Asked if he supported the RSS chief's views, Azmi said: "When he is saying is something right. I cannot say he is wrong.

"If he calls the sun the sun or the moon the moon, I cannot say he is wrong just because of our political differences."

Saying that "we are all proud of our Indian culture and values", Azmi added that women in Rajasthan were always veiled. But when young women go out skimpily dressed, they attract attention and face risks.

"Such nudity must be banned. The censor board must not clear movies having explicit scenes which embarrass families watching them together.

"Women from rural India with knowledge of Indian culture must be inducted into the censor board," Azmi said.

Azmi felt that capital punishment for rape could be "misused by girls and innocent men could be hanged".

"Even if there is a consensual relationship and it turns sour later, girls could resort to blackmail and men would still be punished."