Political blackmail

The report Congress is trying to kill me, says Mayawati (January 8) is an example of political blackmail.

The report Congress is trying to kill me, says Mayawati (January 8) is an example of political blackmail. Her demand for an economic package for UP and SPG cover for herself is atrocious. If similar political demands are made by other states, then the central government will be left with no resources.
Rajesh Kumar
via e-mail

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one doesn’t expect this kind of baseless allegation from a seasoned politician. It appears Mayawati has double vision and is seeing enemies everywhere. First, she blamed the Centre for all the problems of her state arising from her incompetence. After losing out in Ballia to the SP, she now blames the Congress for ‘plotting’ to kill her.
Jatinder Sethi
via e-mail

Easier prey
The editorial Identity crisis (January 9) rightly points out that Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna’s idea of carrying identity cards would have given the local police a new weapon of harassment and extortion. It is not a secret that the police in India target law-abiding people more often than criminals who roam free.
Vivek Priyadarshan
Allahabad

Flap Down Under
Apropos of the editorial Ahead of the race (January 9), going ahead with the tour will only embolden the arrogant ICC and the Australian cricketers, whose behaviour we have seen. They will not improve, racism is ingrained in them. A real jolt is the need of the hour for them and the ICC. We also need to be watchful of the BCCI and its politics.
Kedarnath R
Mumbai