VHP blames 'western model' of lifestyle for incidents of rape

VHP International Advisor Ashok Singhal termed as "alarming" the western model of living, which he said had been imbibed from the US.

"This western model is alarming. What is happening is we have imbibed the US. We have lost all the values we had in cities," Singhal told reporters in response to a question on the growing rape incidents in the country.

He particularly faulted the live-in relationship style when he said "it is not only foreign to our culture, but also hostile."

He claimed that Indians lived a life of 'purity' prior to the arrival of British rulers and said 'purity' of virginity, described as 'brahmacharyam' by him, was being disturbed.

"Virginity was preserved. But the purity has been totally disturbed (now)...We are losing it," he said.

To a question on the controversial statement by a Madhya Pradesh Minister that women should not cross the "Lakshman rekha" lest they should get affected, he said "we do not agree with it."

He demanded that India be renamed as Bharat as it was "our real identity" connected to culture and carried spiritual overtones. "We are a spiritual country," he said.

On the contentious Ramjanma Bhoomi issue, he reiterated VHP's stand on building a temple and said a congregation of sadhus and Hindu saints in Chennai had resolved to this effect. MORE