Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police Kailash Makwana has sparked widespread debate after attributing the rising incidents of rape to mobile phones, internet access, alcohol, and declining moral values, asserting that "preventing rape is not something the police can do alone."
Speaking at a divisional review meeting in Ujjain, Makwana said that easy access to obscene content via mobile phones and the internet is severely impacting young minds, influencing them from an early age and contributing to the surge in sexual violence.
"There are many reasons. In my view, it's due to the internet, mobile phones, the availability of obscene content, alcohol, and how people can connect from anywhere at any time. There's a decline in moral values in society. These are all contributing factors," he said.
He emphasized that this is not solely a law enforcement issue, suggesting that the responsibility must be shared by families, educators, and society at large.
Makwana also lamented the eroding authority of parents and teachers, stating:
"Earlier, children used to listen to their teachers and parents. There was a sense of shame or respect, but many of those boundaries have now disappeared."
Reactions
His comments have drawn mixed responses:
-
Critics argue that shifting the blame to technology and morality oversimplifies a systemic issue, deflecting attention from lapses in policing, slow judicial processes, and lack of gender sensitization.
-
Supporters say he is pointing out the larger sociocultural factors that influence behavior and that a multi-pronged approach is necessary to tackle such crimes.
This statement comes at a time when Madhya Pradesh often ranks among the top Indian states for crimes against women, according to NCRB data, prompting growing scrutiny of both law enforcement effectiveness and societal attitudes.
