RSS chief says rapes occur in India, not Bharat

Bhagwat said: 'You go to villages and forests of the country, and there will be no such incidents of gang-rape or sex crimes.'

, Assam: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat criticized 'western' lifestyle of people in urban areas, and said without empirical evidence to back such a claim, that rape is prevalent mainly in cities where Indians are deeply influenced by western values and not by rural India. 

Addressing a citizens' meet in Silchar recently, Bhagwat said: "You go to villages and forests of the country, and there will be no such incidents of gang-rape or sex crimes. They are prevalent in some urban belts. Besides, the new legislations, Indian ethos and attitude towards women should be revisited in the context of ancient Indian values."

The RSS chief, however, said that he wanted stringent laws in sexual crimes against women and will favour capital punishment for those convicted of rape.

RSS defends Bhagwat

Defending Bhagwat's controversial remark, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav on Friday said "we have great respect for women." 

"The statement of RSS chief should be taken in proper perspective. He (Bhagwat) has already demanded strict punishment for rapists and even called for death penalty if required," Madhav said.

"All that he said is that in Indian tradition we have great respect for women and we should learn to uphold this tradition. If one goes away from this tradition it will result in rise of crime against women,' he added. 

Brinda Karat lashes out at Bhagwat

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Friday lashed out at Bhagwat saying this reflects the mentality, which refuses to accept the reality of caste oppression or class driven exploitation of women.

"I have read that statement and it seems to me that Bhagwatji does not know either India or Bharat. And, if he had even cared to just look at the government statistics, he would know that the largest number of rapes actually occur in rural India, on Adivasi and Dalit women, on agriculture women workers, on rural women workers where there is neither any justice nor any access to justice," said Karat.

"And a statement like Mr. Bhagwat has made only gives strength to the criminals. I think this reflects the mentality, which refuses to accept the reality of caste oppression or class driven exploitation of women," she added.

Most popular Royal faces of India

Indian has a long history of regalia and royalty. Since antiquity, India has engendered many queens, kings, princes and princesses.

Though India is a democracy now, there are still many royal personalities that hold a sway in this country. Below are listed some of the most popular regal personalities of India.

Vasundhara Raje Scindia
The former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, hails from the royal Scindia family of Gwalior. Daughter of MaharajaJivajirao Scindia, Vasundhara Raje has been a popular political personality.

Diya Kumari
Daughter to Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh of Jaipur, Diya is one of the most familiar royal faces in India. Known for her congenial personality, Diya has made many appearances in fashion shows and other high society events.

Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia
Also from the royal Scindia family of Gwalior, he is the grandson of Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia. A political leader by profession, Madhavrao is the Minister of Commerce and Industry of India.

Shivraj Singh

Heir to the Maharaja Gaj Singh, Shivraj was born into the royal family of Jodhpur. A prominent polo player, Shivraj’s wedding in November 2010 was one of the grandest affairs of the country.

Manvendra Singh Gohil
The name of Manvendra Singh Gohil sprang into the headlines when he came out of the closet in 2006. He also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show as well as on BBC’s TV series ‘Undercover’.

Kumar Padmanabh Singh
Padmanabh Singh may be still in his adolescent years, but he rose to fame and recognition when he was crowned the Maharaja of Jaipur last year. Padmanabh belongs to the clan of the famous Maharani Gayatri Devi.

Aarkesh Singh Deo
Progeny of Maharaja Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, Aarkesh hails from the royal family of Bolangir. With a difference, Aarkesh has made his way into modelling and acting.

Anirudh Vishvendra
Hailing from the royal family of Bharatpur, Anirudh Vishvendra studies at the University College London. Taking pride in his heritage, he looks up his parents as his source of inspiration.

 Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar
Lakshyaraj hails from the royal house of Udaipur and has penchant for gardening and photography. A direct descendent of Maharana Pratap Singh, Lakshyaraj exudes royalty and charm.

BJP asks Jethmalani why he should not be expelled

The decision to suspend Jethmalani was an "answer" to the lawyer's open dare to the BJP to take action against him

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a show cause notice to its suspended leader Ram Jethmalani, asking him why he should not be expelled from the party for six years.

"The parliamentary board discussed the anti-party actions of Mr. Ram Jethmalani. The parliamentary party found appropriate the decision of party president Nitin Gadkari to suspend Jethmalani for his indiscipline and anti-party activities," BJP leader Ananth Kumartold reporters.

"We have also sent him a show cause notice to tell why he should not be expelled from the party for six years," he said.

The party is also contemplating action against other rebels notablyYashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha as they both publicly insisted that Nitin Gadkari step down after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced against the BJP chief.

The decision to suspend Jethmalani was an "answer" to the lawyer's open dare to the BJP to take action against him. Jethmalani had yesterday written to Gadkari, contesting a view jointly taken by Opposition leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley on the appointment of new CBI chief Ranjit Sinha.

Sushma and Jaitley, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had alleged that Sinha was appointed in haste to "pre-empt" a recommendation of the House panel on the Lok Pal bill to set up a collegium to choose the CBI head.

In his missive to Gadkari, Jethmalani had said Sushma's and Jaitley's move was "instigated" by the "most undesirable rival" and commended the government for "fast-tracking" Sinha's appointment and "averting a national calamity".

BJP sources said the RSS and the party brass were "furious" with Jethmalani's second offensive against the leadership in the recent past.

Recently, after Gadkari's alleged dodgy financial deals were out in the public domain, Jethmalani had openly demanded his resignation and claimed that Yashwant, Shatrughan and Jaswant Singh were on the same page as him. 

Audi R8 Sportscar First Drive Impressions

The R8 is the slowest car Audi has ever built! You might now be thinking I have gone off the rocker. Not really. I am referring to a tongue-in-cheek slogan Audi designed to bring attention to the time it takes to build an R8. Unlike other Audis, the R8 is meticulously hand-assembled in small numbers. It's a slow and lengthy process, but what it loses in time, it gains in craftsmanship.

The performance figures tell a very different story. Powered by a 5200cc V10 engine that develops a whopping 525 PS and 530 Nm of torque, the R8 rockets from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 313 km/h. Needless to say, these numbers make the R8 the fastest road car Audi has ever built.

Driving an Audi R8 on a race track has two advantages -- it certainly is the best way to appreciate this scrupulously crafted machine, and it's a great opportunity to polish your driving skills. Audi has designed their Audi Sportscar Experience (ASE) programme in such a way that the participants get expert training on handling, steering and braking departments so that they enjoy the R8 experience to the utmost.

Driving Experience

Twelve Audi R8s were lined up on the Madras Motor Sport Club race track and I clambered into the low-slung car assigned to me. The first thing anyone would appreciate is the heavily bolstered seats that hold the occupants snug and in place. The sleek gear shift knob that's milled from a single piece of aluminum grabs your immediate attention, too. Looking around, one would realize why Audi calls it the 'slowest car they've made'. Every element is impeccably and beautifully appointed, making the R8's cabin one of the greatest places to be in.

I twisted the key and the ten pots gave a low growl. Guided by Audi's official driving instructor Mark Allison, the convoy strolled on to the track. Mr. Allison explained to us the R8's braking prowess and handling capabilities, followed by practice sessions.

Then it's on. The monsters hit that track with a sonorous exhaust note. It was truly an aural delight that no one could get enough of. I was too timid to push the R8 hard into corners as the track was wet after the previous night's rain. But the car remained beautifully balanced and I took turns a little faster and harder each time. The body was nearly flat on even the tightest corners. The R8's hydraulically assisted steering is brilliantly weighted at three digits speeds and offers plenty of of feedback to the driver.

Three laps were too less to assess what the mighty R8 is actually capable of and of course, I had to follow the pilot car. Yet, taming an intimidating machine was an exhilarating experience and it was a dream to drive this slowest yet the fastest sports car from the Audi stable.

I'm sure the video has stirred the car enthusiast in you. Hey, there's a way to scratch that itch - the Audi Sportscar Experience is open to the public. Next session is happening from 23rd to 25th November and you can register on Audi India's website.