I have a problem with people who like to call India simply a dysfunctional state. What does that even mean? The author here is hypothesizing a reason for the dysfunction. Its just a hypothesis but its still well ahead of calling it simply broken.
Also I believe 'police state' doesnt imply big-brother-esque behavior on the part of the govt. Even unending policing and related rules can be called that.
Far too many people especially Indians take comfort in calling it 'simply dysfunctional' thereby oversimplifying the situation and hence not bothering to find out what can be done to improve.