Defending Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat''s controversial remark that rapes hardly take place in ''Bharat'', but they occur frequently in ''India'', RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav today 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. 

Addressing a citizens' meet on Tuesday during his four-day visit to Silchar, 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.

As this tweet says: Befriended Stranger: Phoolan devi and Bhawari devi were raped in your Bharat by a mob of Bhartiya Mr.Bhagat.