This refers to the editorial, “SP leaders touch new low” (April 12). Our system is already lenient when ‘mistakes’ such as rape are done by men who are considered to be boys if they are below the age of 18. So, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is only pandering to the constituents who do not consider a crime like rape serious enough to merit the death penalty.
In the Shakti Mills case, the men had been repeat rapists, and so what they did was no ‘mistake'. But Mr Yadav could not be bothered with such details. It is well known that one is a criminal only when one is caught. So Mr Yadav wants to give such criminals the benefit of ‘mistake'.
What about letting off people involved in riots and communal violence, because even that can be considered a ‘mistake'IJ It is no wonder that Uttar Pradesh, where Mr Yadav's party is in power, has one of the worst records on women’s safety.