Spin a Tight Spot

The incompetence of the Akhilesh government in Uttar Pradesh in effectively handling the riots in Muzaffarnagar has eventually alienated the Samajwadi Party from both Jat and Muslim voters (“The Riot within SP”, October 7). There has been a significant rise in discontent among people of both the communities in the aftermath of the riots, which perceptively will have an ominous repurcussion on the ruling establishment. The magnitude of the indignation of the Muslim community against SP was reflected when PWD Minister Shivpal Yadav and the Chief Minister visited the riot- hit area. While Shivpal Yadav was shown black flags and prevented from speaking, Akhilesh had to face an angry mob. It seems that SP will have to pay dearly for the riots.

KESHAV PATHAK, Nagchala Mandi, Himachal Pradesh The Muzaffarnagar riots have created strong differences within the Samajwadi Party. With the Muslim community rightly feeling betrayed, the party fears that it will lose their vote bank in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. This has created a rift in the party with two MLAs resigning. Senior leaders also fear that the Opposition parties such as Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party may cash in on the situation to woo the Muslim voters. What has made the situation worse for SP is the fact that not only Muslims but even Jats too are peeved with the party. It might lose out on their support as well.

R. D. DESHPANDE , Bangalore