India's Modi: rape is a matter of shame for the country

LONDON (Reuters) - Rape is rape and should not be politicized, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, adding that recent sexual assaults were a matter of shame for the nation. Modi was greeted on a visit to London by hundreds of noisy protesters, demonstrating against a rising tide of sexual violence at home including two particularly brutal rapes. "Rape is rape ... How can we accept this?" Modi said through a translator at a diaspora event, adding that people needed to ask more questions of the perpetrators. "This is a matter of great concern for the country and these sinners are somebody's sons... The rape of a (daughter) is a matter of worry, a shame for the country." (Reporting by William James and Manoj Kumar; writing by Alistair Smout; editing by Stephen Addison)