Kolkata, Jan 16 (IANS) Sankaracharya of Puri Swami Nischalananda Saraswati Wednesday blamed the government for its weak image in dealing with killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan army and dubbed western influence as a factor for increasing rape incidents.

Replying to queries from mediapersons, the Sankaracharya termed as "barbaric" the killing and mutilation of the two soldiers near the Line of Control.

"It is against all human values. It is barbaric," the religious leader said here.

However he said Pakistan "can do such acts without having to think even twice as the image of the Indian government and the country was weak in tackling incidents of this nature".

The Sankarcharya also said increasing western influence manifested in the profusion of high-society club culture, in films and the in take of drugs had overshadowed traditional principles and old values.

He said western influences had gone up post-independence.

"When we were not independent, we nursed our values and cultures. But in the last 65 years, there has been a great erosion of values and principles. We have to change this".

Referring to the Delhi gang-rape, he said: "Such incidents take place when the thin line of value system is overshot in the ruse of development".