Faced with a growing torrent of outrage both at home and abroad, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved to address his country’s persistent issue with sexual violence, asserting “rape is rape” and should not be politicized.
The comments come amid stinging criticism from India’s former leader over Modi’s alleged mishandling of the issue, following a string of particularly brutal rape cases which have shocked the nation and triggered countrywide protests.
Modi, who is currently visiting the UK, made the remarks yesterday during an address to selected members of the Indian-Diaspora in London.
“Any time a small girl is sexually assaulted, it is painful for all us,” Modi said in London, according to a report by CNN News.
Around 100 sexual assaults are reported to police in India every day, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. There were nearly 39,000 alleged attacks in 2016, an increase of 12% on the previous year.
