ROHTAK: Haryana’s khap mahapanchayat has blamed films and TV for the recent spate of rapes in the state and asked the government to bring down the marriageable age to prevent them.

“Youngsters get easily attracted to the opposite sex in early teenage and vulgarity shown on TV and cinema is largely responsible for this,” khap mahapanchayat spokesperson Sube Singh said while referring to the growing number of rapes in the state.

He said the vulgarity has led to early puberty among youth, who are not mature enough to handle attraction towards the opposite sex. “… thus rapes and gangrapes are resulted. Under this situation, there is need to change the lower age limit for marriage”. He said the marriageable age should be lowered to “allow men and women fulfill their physical desires and thus curb the crimes against women”.

He said the mahapanchayat, which represents khaps from across the state, will discuss the issue during its next meeting at Gohana in Sonipat.

Meham Chaubisi khap panchayat head Randhir Singh supported the suggestions. “The lifestyle of younger generation has changed drastically. Even the changing food habits have also affected the physique of the youngsters who are getting sexually active at early stages. If the body and mind of boys and girls are allowing their union, then what is wrong in getting them married.”

Earlier, Jat Mahasabha head Om Prakash Mann had suggested these measures to prevent crimes against women. But Hisar’s Guru Jambheshwar University psychologist Sandeep Singh said lowering the marriageable age is no solution. “These incidents are the outcome of a bias towards women,” he said.