Asaram Bapu calls critics 'barking dogs', adds to gangraped girl's humiliation, then 'apologises'

Day after letting loose extremely derogatory remarks against Delhi gangraped victim who died after days of waging a courageous fight against the horrific injuries she suffered during the crime, Asaram Bapu ratcheted up his insensitive tirade against her by refusing to apologise and in fact went much further to call all critics and the media 'barking dogs' for raising a controversy over his 'innocuous' comments.

At a rally where hundreds of his supporters were gathered, Asaram Bapu said that when an 'elephant walks (gestures at himself), first one dog starts barking, then others around him and finally the whole neighborhood's dogs join in the bedlam. They thereby benefit by getting some attention themselves. Now, if the elephant runs behind the dogs, then their (dogs) value increases and that of the elephant comes down'.

"They can say what they like. I don't care. I still maintain why should I run behind the dogs," Asaram added.

Asaram Bapu holds girl responsible for Delhi gangrape, says 'spare' the rapists, slams media

Asaram was at the centre of a controversy yesterday after he suggested that the 23-year-old gangrape victim was equally responsible for the ghastly crime and said the girl could have called her assailants brothers and begged them to stop.

"Now what did I say wrong. A man approached me and said my wife fights with me. So I said you can't clap with one hand. So what's wrong with that. Now, this comment was joined with another comment," he said trying to underplay the controversy.

"Does an elephant give importance to dogs by reacting?" he said, adding, "let people infer what they want."

Asaram later told reporters his remarks about the gangrape victim were misconstrued by his critics and the media.

The spiritual leader claimed if his speech was understood in the proper context people would be respecting him for his comments in the Delhi gangrape case.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Verdict in Dec 16 rape case expected by month-end: Neeraj Kumar

China incursion: Both sides withdraw troops from Daulat Beg Oldi sector

Sonia Gandhi consults A K Antony on Pawan Bansal issue

Coalgate probe: No accused or suspect let off, says CBI chief Ranjit Sinha