Thank you Outlook for joining the BJP bandwagon. From hailing NaMo Nation, Supremodi, Maximum Modi to declaring Akhilesh Yadav as ‘India’s worst chief minister’ (June 16), it is a clear attempt to establish Narendra Modi as the only worthwhile leader in the country. You have used the unfortunate Badaun incident to paint Akhilesh black. The truth, however, is that the gruesome gangrape-hanging was a criminal act, not the result of a political failure. The Uttar Pradesh CM, on his part, has referred the case to the cbi for an impartial inquiry. Why pull him up for his mild-mannered ways and respect for elders? Mulayam is not only his father but also the Samajwadi Party president and it is up to him to decide what is best for the party and its rule in the state. Law and order in UP is in perennial crisis, it’s no sudden aberration. The bias in the national media against regional leaders clearly shows they care only about the government of the day in Delhi.
Sukhwinder Singh, Yamuna Nagar
Till local administration is freed of the grip of SP functionaries, who are mostly goondas, and postings are decided on the basis of merit rather than caste or bribe, UP will suffer.
Anshul, Indore
With its 200 million people, UP would qualify to be one of the largest nations in the world. Exceptionally, given its mosaic of caste and religion, its people gave a simple majority, first to Mayawati in 2007 and then to the young Akhilesh in 2012, who held out the promise—though on a more modest scale—that Rajiv Gandhi did in 1984. Many will feel bad that Camelot has ended so badly.
Ashok Lal, Mumbai
Thrown at the deep end of the political swimming pool by his dominating father, Akhilesh seems to be sinking rather than swimming. It does not bode well for the state that has for long been ruled by fickle leaders like Mulayam and Mayawati, and now Mulayam again through his son as proxy.
H.C. Pandey, Delhi
The state has to be broken up into four or five smaller ones for some kind of effective governance. It plays too important a political role with no value addition politically or in other way. msy and his ilk must be thrown out of the state. They have been given authority without being held responsible. The state deserves better.
Shankar Narayanan Ram, Chennai
All countries have their horrors, but India exposes to the world—with amazing regularity—its gruesome treatment of women, each incident complicated by caste and class and a brand of conniving lawlessness peculiarly its own.
Meghana A., New South Wales
If Akhilesh has a casual, easygoing attitude and lacks a strong personality, how come his ‘Delhi-eyeing’ father thrust the chief ministership of a state on him? Now one knows where and with whom the blame lies!
Soli Canteenwala, Mumbai
Good to see all four chief ministers in one picture.
Sushant Kumar, Sydney
Mulayam thought he could get away with his ‘ayyashi’ and goondaism by putting up this front of an educated son and daughter-in-law. But people have not been taken in. His son has been exposed as a spineless wimp who has squandered the opportunity of a lifetime to make a difference. Just shows that good schooling is not the same as getting educated—he may have gone to schools with big names and earned many degrees, but if they did not improve his moral timbre, they are not worth toilet paper.
Rajesh Chary, Mumbai
You have been kind in labelling Akhilesh as an inexperienced colt hemmed in by his father. The fact is that he belongs to a privileged class and is an arrogant brat, a trait shared by children of bureaucrats and politicians who think they own the country. Just see how they behave on the roads and you know what they are about. Which is why when one of these brats is entrusted with a responsible job, he promptly makes a complete mess of it. India will never do well till it gets rid of its vip culture.
Dinesh Kumar, Chandigarh
Mulayam’s problem is that he got his son a political degree first and then compulsively started teaching him how to read what’s written on it.
Rajneesh Batra, Delhi
And to think Outlook ran a consistent campaign running Gujarat down.
Maha, New Jersey
Will the real CM of UP please stand up?
V.N.K. Murti, Pattambi
India’s worst CM? Mamata Banerjee can beat Akhilesh hands down anytime.
Pradip Singh, Stafford, UK
