Blaming the internet, porn, and moral decay may deflect from state failure to protect women, critics argue
A Troubling Diagnosis of Rape Culture in Madhya Pradesh
In a statement that has sparked heated debate across the country, Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana has argued that police forces alone cannot curb rape incidents. Speaking after a review meeting in Ujjain, Makwana pointed to pornography, alcohol, smartphones, and declining moral values as key drivers behind the state’s rising sexual violence.
“The way pornography is being served on the internet, the minds of children are getting distorted,” he said, emphasizing the role of digital exposure and lack of family supervision in shaping today’s youth.
But while the DGP’s remarks might aim to reflect social concerns, they raise an uncomfortable question: Is the state shifting blame to culture and technology to mask its own failures in ensuring women’s safety?
An Alarming Rise in Rape Cases—and a Blame Game
According to the Madhya Pradesh Home Department, rape cases in the state rose from 6,134 in 2020 to 7,294 in 2024—a chilling 19% increase. On average, 20 rape cases are now reported daily.
Yet rather than committing to stronger law enforcement mechanisms, Makwana appears to downplay the role of policing altogether. “There are many reasons behind the increasing incidents of rape,” he said, “but police alone can't deal with it.”
Critics say such comments reflect a troubling trend: the state acknowledging the problem but redirecting accountability elsewhere—onto families, onto the internet, onto vague notions of "moral decline"—while systemic policing failures remain largely unaddressed.
Moral Policing vs Real Policing
Makwana’s claims of deteriorating social values due to internet porn and smartphones echo a larger national narrative that tends to overemphasize cultural rot over institutional responsibility.
Yes, the digital world is changing fast, and yes, young minds are more exposed than ever. But does that justify the state’s inability to protect its citizens from sexual assault? Instead of framing rape as an unfortunate byproduct of modernity, critics argue, authorities should focus on the real culprits: weak law enforcement, sluggish judiciary processes, and inadequate victim support systems.
What message does it send to survivors when the state’s top police officer implies that stopping rape is no longer a law enforcement issue, but a parental one?
The Kolkata Case: A National Wake-Up Call
Makwana’s comments come just days after the nation was rocked by the gang-rape of a law student in Kolkata—a brutal case that ignited fresh anger over India's deep-rooted gender violence crisis.
Rather than spurring constructive policy discussions, remarks like Makwana’s risk shifting the national focus away from critical issues like policing accountability, legal reform, and survivor justice. If rape is framed primarily as a consequence of bad parenting or mobile addiction, where does that leave institutional reform?
Systemic Change or Convenient Excuses?
Makwana lamented, “Children used to listen to teachers and family members earlier, but today no one is able to keep an eye on each other in a house.” But this nostalgic moralism offers little hope to women navigating unsafe streets, indifferent police stations, and broken justice systems.
While societal reform and education are undoubtedly important, law enforcement has a constitutional duty to protect the vulnerable—regardless of what content is trending online. Shifting the conversation away from legal and policing gaps not only evades accountability—it actively undermines public faith in the state’s capacity to protect its people.
Conclusion: The Real Obscenity Lies in Institutional Apathy
If obscene content online is "distorting young minds," as the DGP suggests, the state's inaction and tendency to moralize instead of mobilize is equally dangerous. Real reform starts not with sermonizing, but with investments in policing reforms, fast-track courts, victim support systems, and community outreach.
Madhya Pradesh’s women aren’t waiting for a digital detox—they’re demanding safety, justice, and action. It’s time the state stops hiding behind societal decay and starts fixing the rot within its own system.