Sir — The extravaganza displayed in the birthday celebrations of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was not liked by many. Mr Yadav has claimed that the cost was not borne by the State exchequer but by his own family. Can we ask how his family could afford to bear such expensesIJ Besides, Mr Yadav is an important political leader and should be teaching people the value of austerity, not profligacy.