No respect for Indian women
I am quite surprised after seeing the reaction of people (‘Row grows after US Marshals strip-search Indian diplomat,’ Gulf News, December 18). I don’t say that the US actions were necessary, but if people think what the Indian government did is right then I have a number of questions. Let me ask just one simple question. What does the Indian government do when the young Indian girls are raped and harassed? Every other day we read news about rapes and recently about gang rapes. Why does it take the India government so much time to punish the rapists? What does the government do for the girls who fear stepping out of their house because there is no sense of safety or security? Indian women are looked down upon and disrespected by the media, politicians, government, police and even the society they live in. But we have never raised our voice for their right in every day situations. Why have we suddenly become so concerned in this case? I feel this is nothing, just dirty politics.
From Mr M. G.
Dubai
Website comment
Full name withheld by request
The right action
What was the need to strip-search a woman for such a case? Wasn’t this case about paying less for domestic help? US has shown that they have no respect for women of any country. In my opinion, no one has the right to outrage the modesty of a woman. What India is doing is correct.
From Mr Mohammed
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Website comment
Hypocrisy?
The double standards being shown by the Indian government are abominable. The Indian official is being protected excessively. I understand that perhaps the strip search might have been a bit extreme but manipulating the law so that you can underpay your housekeeper is not exactly the best conduct either. Why is she being offered so much cover? There is more to this story than meets the eye.
From Ms Athena Khan
Abu Dhabi
Good for India!
The US has no right to do this, especially to a Consular official. They would have reacted strongly if similar treatment was meted out to one of their officials. If they behave in a certain manner then that is fine because they’re following the law but if another country does the same then it is barbaric behaviour. The US definitely needs to get off its high moral horse. I’m happy with the tough action that India has taken on the matter.
From Mr Roy Kumar
Dubai
A muddle
I don’t understand this whole concept of diplomatic immunity. Why should it exist in the first place? Diplomats are also human beings, the rule of law should apply equally to all. And, who has proven all the allegations against this woman anyway? Too much of a muddle.
From Ms Octavia Abraham
Sharjah
Help the homeless
It is indeed heart wrecking to hear about the situation of abandoned cats in Dubai (‘What to do if you find a stray cat?’ Gulf News, December 19). I totally agree with Ms Lesley, the chairperson of Feline Friends Dubai that many of us want to save most cats but it isn’t always practical to do so. I am an animal lover, but I was always sceptical to keep a pet at home until the day I encountered an abandoned cat. I couldn’t resist myself from bringing her home. I took her to the veterinarian, got her vaccinated and brought her home. It’s been six months and now she has become an inseparable part of my life and family. I’m writing this letter to share this experience of mine with all readers. I want to tell everyone that there is no better feeling than giving a home to a homeless animal. Just take the first step and see the love you get in return.
From Ms Shikha Dixit
Dubai
Al Tawun roundabout
I have been living in the Al Tawun area of Sharjah for the past two years not. I need to cross the Al Tawun roundabout every time I leave home. There are thousands of other resident like me who cannot avoid crossing this dangerous roundabout. I have escaped serious accidents on a number of occasions at this roundabout. Drivers often give indicators for the completely opposite direction they are going in. This confuses other drivers and leads to accidents. The other problem is that because of the continuous traffic at the roundabout, some motorists have such poor judgment skills and cannot decide when to enter the roundabout and when to wait. There have been instances where I had to put emergency brakes to avoid hitting drivers who would simply enter without making sure if it is safe to do so. Additionally, I witness an accident at the roundabout every other day. Following these near-fatal incidents, I think it is high time that the authorities replace this huge roundabout with signals. This will also help solve the traffic congestion in the area.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
I need to wash my car
Before we talk about cars I want to ask, what about the enormous amount of water spilled on streets with the water sprinklers for the plants (‘Stiffer fines for wasting water in Dubai homes next year,’ Gulf News, December 16)? Also, I have been thinking how should we wash our cars? In Sharjah, we are being fined for washing cars regardless of the amount of water we use. If cars are not washed the dirty cars on the roads will also spoil the image of the country.
From Mr M. S. A.
Sharjah
Don’t waste water
I have noticed people living in villas in Satwa and Al Wasl waste a lot of water. They not only wash their cars but also the driveway of their houses and let the water flow on to the roads. The servants and the housemaids are forced to do so as they have to obey the orders of their keeper. Is water free for anyone?
From Mr Mohan
Dubai
Faulty DRS system
When the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) came up with the Decision Review System (DRS) system, India immediately implemented it (‘Cricket decision review system under scanner again,’ Gulf News, December 15). However, after experiencing its shortfalls, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the captain of the Indian cricket team refused to toe in line with it. This was not appreciated by the member countries. However, the recent faulty decisions in the Ashes series, by England in Australia, it is quite evident that the DRS systems needs fine tuning.
From Mr Vinay Mahadevan
Dubai
More pedestrian crossings
Residents have long been demanding for a pedestrian bridge in front of Ansar Mall in Sharjah. I don’t know why the concerned authorities haven’t made an effort yet. This is a serious situation, people have got into accidents while crossing the road and this will continue to happen unless there is a pedestrian crossing. Please look into this matter urgently.
From Mr Mohandas T. K.
Sharjah
Why is it so expensive?
I am writing this letter to share my opinion on how important education is for an individual. I recently took up a new job and came across people from different nationalities. One acquaintance is a 25-year-old Yemeni girl. She is a sweet girl but unfortunately didn’t have the privilege to complete her education. It was heartbreaking to know how badly she wants to complete her education but her financial situation doesn’t allow her to do so. Also, she feels she is too old to go to high school now. I wonder who are we as society to create a barrier of age limit for completing education. I don’t think age should be a consideration. Why do people have norms about the right and wrong age for education or college? We all know that nobody wants to be on the wrong side of the road. If someone is going to school late, there always is a reason behind it. Moreover, why is education so expensive in today’s world? Education is a right of every human being. Why do we have to pay so much to get it? Through Gulf News I want to raise my voice and educate people to think beyond the societal norms and understand that education is a basic necessity for survival. We cannot make education unaffordable for anyone. I just hope that some day my friend has the opportunity to fulfil her dream and complete her education.
From Ms Sumera Malik
Sharjah
Hardwork is the key to success
“Work hard, only then will you be successful,” has been my mother’s advice for me since childhood. I’m sure all parents say the same to their children. Today we are living in a hi-tech generation, but even then hard work is the key to success. In today’s world we have a variety of curriculums to get our basic education. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) of Dubai for bringing more than thirteen curricula under one umbrella. Promotion of digital learning has further widened the horizon of knowledge. Competition is the key word for students. I strongly believe that healthy competition is a must for quality improvement and that this competition is in no way harming the core values of education. Successful people are the ones who spend their time doing the right thing at the right time. Education should never be about the amount of time you spent learning or the amount of effort it took. It should always be about what you learnt through your way. I wish the younger generation the very best of luck.
From Mr Ajithkumar
Dubai
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