Sir — Capital punishment can be questioned on a matter of principle. Many social activists and others are opposed to the death sentence, even for crimes such as rape. But for Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav to say that “boys make mistakes and they should not be hanged for rape”, and to support such criminals at a public meeting to win a few votes, is outrageous.
Mr Yadav has demeaned the dignity of women and trivialised a grave crime. But then, he is not known to be a torch-bearer of women’s rights.