LONDON – In the wake of a spate of brutal rape cases in India their PrimeMinister Narendra Modi on Wednesday weighed in on the pervasive issue ofsexual violence saying that ‘rape is rape” and “question your sons”,according to *CNN*.

The comments come amid stinging criticism from India’s former leader overModi’s alleged mishandling of the issue, following a string of particularlybrutal rape cases which shocked the nation and triggered nationwideprotests.

Modi, who is currently visiting the UK, made the remarks during an addressto selected members of the Indian-diaspora in London.

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 theprevious year.

“Any time a small girl is sexually assaulted, it is painful for all us,”Modi said in London.

“But can we compare the number of rapes in different governments? We can’tsay there were this many rapes in our government and that many in yours.There cannot be a worse way to deal with this issue,” he added.

Fallout from recent cases, including two alleged unrelated attacks on girlsaged 16 and eight, is threatening to overshadow Modi’s visit to the UK.

On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Downing Street andthe British Parliament, waving placards reading “go home Modi” and “hangthe rapists” as the premier prepared to meet his British counterpartTheresa May.

*The article originally appeared on **CNN*link>