A recent BBC documentary about a notorious Delhi gang rape tells the harrowing story of the rape and murder of Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old medical student, on a bus in 2012. But it also exposes the attitudes that made the crime possible. One of the men sentenced to hang for his part in it, Mukesh Singh, blamed the young woman for her own death. “A girl is far more responsible for a rape than a boy,” he told the film-makers. “A decent girl won’t roam around at nine at night…..This wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t fought back. She should have been silent and allowed the rape.”

India’s government furiously denounced the film, and banned it. Rajnath Singh, the home minister, called it “an affront to the dignity of women”. Other ministers worried that it would “defame India internationally” and “affect tourism”. (Amy Kazmin, Financial Times)

The attitudes revealed in this documentary seem to be widespread across India. Instead of criticizing the messenger, the Indian government should be announcing a policy of “zero toleration”, not only for murder, but also for rape. No exceptions. They should be trying to change the attitude towards women, not making crass statements about tourism. An Epicurean government (hah!) would make equality of the sexes before the law a principal and principled policy.