Opinions | Letters
December 3, 2008
Letters to the Editor.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:25 December 2, 2008
Global support for India
The inhumane act committed by militants in India is highly deplorable ("Mumbai: 48 hours of terror", Gulf News, November 29). No words of disapproval would suffice to condemn this grave massacre of innocent human beings. It is high time the Indian government and opposition parties stood together - united and firm - in order to tackle the surging acts of terror. We need to bear in mind that perpetrators of horrible acts have no affiliations. Needless to say, at this juncture, the whole world is supporting India in their war against terror.
From Mr Abdul Rafei Alvi
Abu Dhabi
Stand united
A new and ugly face of terrorism surfaced in Mumbai. The attack was not just on innocent civilians, but on India, too. I believe the objective of such attacks was to weaken and fractionalise the emerging nation. The scale and audacity of the siege in Mumbai was shocking and gruesome. Indians should stand united, support their country and strongly condemn this violence. I appreciate the fact that political parties came together on one platform, to show the world that the security of the nation takes priority. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those killed in the attacks.
From Mr Mohammad Shafe'ei Naqvi
Dubai
Two extremes
In the past few days, the world witnessed two extremes in Mumbai - one of ruthless massacre and the other of selfless sacrifice. However, both eventually resulted in a heavy loss of life. Hats off to the brave soldiers and hotel staff, as well as the hostages who confronted the ordeal so bravely. We share the grief of the families who lost their loved ones. However, it is worth noting that Raj Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, was absent throughout the crisis. Where was he when Mumbai passed through its toughest time in history? In its hours of distress, Indians crossed borders of communalism and regionalism to join hands and support their country.
From Mr Syed Qaisar Mahdi
Dubai
Word of the year
The word 'meltdown', often used in reference to the global financial downturn, is one that epitomises the year 2008. After all, corporate entities and financial institutions sought - and are still seeking - a 'bailout', after being adversely affected by the global meltdown. Although it is a rather pessimistic-sounding word to define this year, there is simply no escaping this harsh reality.
From Ms Shiuli Dutt Dey
Dubai
Treasured pieces
I am positive that many Gulf News readers enjoy the newspaper's 'Off The Cuff' section. Most of the articles are very well written and depict some sort of social context that readers can relate to. Additionally, the featured topics are hilarious, relaxing or thought-provoking. If readers were provided with a selection of material from this section, in the form of a souvenir, I am sure they would treasure it immensely.
From Ms Sameena Zulfiquar
Dubai
Sigh of relief
I was very glad to read that a dedicated bus lane is going to be created, for buses plying from Sharjah to Dubai. This initiative would definitely help ease traffic congestion and would allow motorists to heave a sigh of relief. Additionally, a special lane for buses would encourage more people to use the public transport system. It is a step in the right direction and I hope it would be implemented soon.
From Ms Naina Nair
Sharjah
No comparison
I do not know whether Ms Elena Santos's comparison between computers and books is appropriate ("Irreplaceable", Gulf News, November 29). Up to a certain extent, computers are able to fulfil the role of books. However, children seldom consider them to be an enriching source of knowledge. Moreover, some parents admire the technical aspect of computers and by emphasising this quality they interpret computers to be a more resourceful tool than books. I think children must be encouraged to read selected books, as they definitely increase their knowledge and guide them towards a better future. I commend the authorities for the initiative to encourage Emiratis to read more often.
From Mr K. N. Vasudevan
Dubai
Bad service
Having boarded a bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, I purchased a ticket worth Dh15 and handed over Dh50 to the driver. Instead of returning the change, the driver wrote a note on my ticket, stating that Dh35 was due and signed with his initials. On reaching my destination, I produced my ticket to the driver. However, he became aggressive and shouted insults at me. He claimed that he had already returned my money. With nowhere to go, I alighted from the bus and approached the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) office. After much deliberation and further insults, I was finally given back my change.
From Mr Lewellyn Christopher
Dubai
Ms Aisha Humaid Al Shamsi, suggestion and complaints officer of RTA, replies:
We cannot investigate the complaint due to lack of complaint data. Additionally, we contacted the complainant and he informed us that he had not made any complaint.
The complainant responds:
The RTA sent me a few emails and text messages in Arabic. I have not responded to them for the simple reason that I do not read or write Arabic. What the RTA wishes to inform, simply by sending a complaint number in English, is anybody's guess. I do not wish to take the issue any further.
The RTA responded by repeating its initial reply.
Undeniable truth
Recently, I observed a horrible accident involving a collision between a bicycle and a car. The cyclist was badly injured and his bicycle was a heap of mangled metal. It is an undeniable reality that bicycles on roads with heavy traffic could create deadly consequences. Nothing is more precious than one's life. Therefore, I urge the concerned authorities to take immediate action and prohibit cyclists from using main roads.
From Mr Naveed Rafique
Sharjah
Practice first
This is in response to those who constantly complain about people creating traffic congestions. I know a person who often blames others for illegally pushing their way into the queue and blocking lanes in doing so. However, I had the opportunity to drive behind this person, recently. Believe it or not, he was the first to try jumping lanes, despite knowing that he had to change lanes to take the desired exit. I have a suggestion for those who complain: watch your own actions first.
Dr Saji Sreedharan Pillai
Dubai
Traffic light timing
The traffic signal on Al Seef Road in Dubai flashes red for longer than four minutes and creates a great deal of traffic congestion. Motorists have to wait for a long time, before they are let through. I believe the duration of movement from each direction should be equal. During rush hours, the timing of the signal should be adjusted accordingly, for a smoother flow of traffic.
From Ms Sharmila Ravikumar
Dubai
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