German envoy raps professor for rejecting Indian student

German ambassador to India Michael Steiner Monday criticized a professor in his country for rejecting application of internship by an Indian student over alleged rape problem in Indian, calling it "discriminating generalization".

"Let's be clear: India is not a country of rapists," Steiner wrote in a letter published by the local media.

Steiner said a high quality public debate on rape is going on in India, while advising the professor to "learn more about the diverse, dynamic and fascinating country", local daily The Hindu online reported.

"In India, the Nirbhaya case has triggered a lively, honest, sustained and very healthy public debate... of a quality that wouldn't be possible in many other countries," he was quoted as saying in his open letter to Dr. Annette Beck-Sickinger, professor of biochemistry at Leipzig University, who has refused to accept an Indian student for an internship because of India's "rape problem".

Nirbhaya is the popular name given to the victim of the 2012 Delhi gang rape by the Indian public.

Steiner asked the professor to correct her simplistic image " particularly unsuitable for a professor and teacher."

"Yesterday, we celebrated International Women's Day at the German Embassy here in Delhi with many local activists including many men. Your oversimplifying and discriminating generalization is an offense to these women and men ardently committed to furthering women empowerment in India; and it is an offense to millions of law-abiding, tolerant, open-minded and hard-working Indians," said the envoy.

India has plunged into a intensive debate about violence against women, after the BBC recently aired a film based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape.

The Indian government has banned the film because it included an interview with one of the six rapists in the shocking gang rape.

A 23-year-old medical student was brutally raped by the rapists in a moving bus in south Delhi. She died of internal injuries days after the crime. Endi