Staggering number of deaths
It is disheartening to read articles on people falling to death from balconies being published so frequently. (‘Man falls to death from high-rise building,’ Gulf News, October 22). These incidents cause a deep impact on the neighbourhood. I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased who have fallen from a high-rise building recently. I would like to suggest certain precautions that must be implemented. Installation of safety latches to windows and high banisters on balconies must not be overlooked. It should be made mandatory for builders and contractors to provide the safest and finest equipment to ensure the safety of residents. Lastly, furniture must not be placed on balconies, in order to avoid falls. I hope these safety measures will bring an end to the mishaps.
From Mr Vignesh Rao
UAE
Cursive writing: an unfading art
I wholeheartedly agree with reader Shikha Dixit’s concern regarding the fading art of cursive writing among children (‘Letters to the editor: A fading art,’ Gulf News, October 23). She mentions cursive writing for four- to five-year-old children, but I would like to inform her that I am 50 years old, and I am still interested in learning and writing in cursive. For me, it’s not fading, and I do believe that there may be many people like me who are still interested in this impressive art form.
From Mr Iqbal Osman
UAE
Working on national interests
Whether it’s his oratory skills or people sensing sincerity, Narendra Modi’s initiatives as Prime Minister are gaining widespread acceptance in India, and it is cutting across party lines (‘Fears of tough penalties grow as India cleans up business,’ Gulf News, October 23). The electorate who got frustrated by corruption and inflation pin their hopes on him for a ‘renaissance’. Modi now stands more as India’s leader than just the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). If Modi continues to act in the interest of the nation as a main priority and reigns in the few extremist voices being aired from sources around him, the electorate won’t seek an alternative to him in the near future.
From Mr Salim Ponnambath
Doha, Qatar
Too cumbersome
It is a whimsical thought that the Indian government is due to unearth the illegal earnings buried elsewhere by the people who were stakeholders of the country (‘India’s push to recover ill-gotten gains a right step,’ Gulf News, October 24). In a country like India, democracy can feel like a ploy to trick the rank and file of the society by intoxicating the people with communal flavour, in order for leaders at the helm to rob public funds behind the scene. Whether it is the ruling elites, opposition stalwarts or the spontaneous regional splinter groups, all are unanimous and cover each other when it comes to the matter of money that benefits them. It is too cumbersome at a bureaucratic level to excavate such hidden treasures because they are at the beck and call of those leaders who seldom reflect integrity in their job.
From Mr Salim Panthodi
Abu Dhabi
Trust and patience
The entire media in India has got it wrong and has erroneously reported on the Modi government’s statement on black money. This was clarified by Arun Jaitley, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defence in India, in his interview on television last week. The issue is an undertaking given by the Indian government that they will not disclose the names to the public until the charge sheet is filed in the court. After that, all the names of the people who stashed millions of dollars will be in the public domain.
The minister also mentioned the names to be revealed will be a huge embarrassment to Congress and not the BJP. Here is a Prime Minister who is thinking out of the box and working with zeal and passion and still people attribute ulterior motives to him. After a very long time, we have a thinking and working Prime Minister who will definitely bring good days for people. Let us have patience.
From Mr Ganeshan Srinivasan
UAE
The Pakistani intransigence
Pakistani troops are firing at the Indian border with disturbing regularity, neglecting the necessity of the ceasefire agreement (‘Modi rallies troops in Diwali day Kashmir visit’ Gulf News, October 24). They did so even during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Modi who has offered an olive branch to Pakistan recently. It is sad that Pakistan is taking such steps to provoke India.
From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel
India
A necessary role
The role of security services has once again come into the limelight after the recent incidents in the US and Canada: on September 18, a man jumped the fence of the White House and now we see the recent attack on the Canadian parliament buildings (‘Ottawa shootout calls for greater vigil,’ Gulf News, October 24). These are the situations where security has played a vital role. Intruders were overpowered by security services.
With reference to the above incidents and rapidly growing disturbance in the world peace scenario, makes an individual think about their safety and protection. Kevin Vickers has emerged as a Canadian national hero and an example for the entire world of security services, where Canadians are paying their gratitude for his action. Such a daring action and presence of mind does not simply pop-in until and unless the individual is professionally trained.
From Mr Parminder Singh Gohal
UAE
Bias reporting internationally
As much as I condemn the shooting by a gunman on the soldier guarding the war memorial in Ottawa last Wednesday, I would also like to condemn the bias journalism demonstrated in the news that followed. They did so by mentioning that the shooter had recently converted to Islam. For the last few years there were several cases of civilians or military officials being shot at in schools or on public grounds - sometimes killing dozens at a time. In none of the reports was the religion of the gunmen revealed, but in the Ottawa shootout, religion is being blamed even though the shooter is a known criminal.
From Mr A. P.
Abu Dhabi
Full name withheld on request
Legal criteria to marry
Every child has a right to education, and so I think that governments across the world should implement minimum age for marriages (‘Focus: Girls not brides,’ Gulf News, October 24). I think that people should be at least 20 years old and have an education up to high school. This would be a step in the right direction, but education would have to be free to make it work.
From Mr Rajith PS
UAE
Facebook comment
Education is key
I think that education definitely plays a huge role, as it enables women to begin on a path of independence. It would also protect them from making decisions they don’t have to take, like getting married as a child - so sad.
From Ms Nancy Hassan
UAE
Facebook comment
Respect in the house of God
This note goes out to the two Filipino women who attended the 5pm mass at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai this Saturday. My wife and I were happy to find two seats in the church 10 minutes before the mass began. As we knelt down to pray, it was not long before we realised that they were two Filipino girls in their mid-twenties who were continuously chatting away.
As the congregation stood up to welcome the priest, both these girls continued chatting and giggling. Their weird behaviour by leaning on each other, holding hands, caressing and kisses on the cheek were very annoying and disturbing. These two grown up women showed total disrespect in a house of God during the entire service. Even during offertory time, one of them answered their mobile phone and chatted for a while. An elderly Filipino woman seated nearby asked them to keep silent during the mass, but they paid no heed to her.
My wife lost her patience by then, tapped one of them on the shoulders and told them that they should learn how to behave in church and that their behaviour was a nuisance and a disturbance to the crowd. Mumbling, they left the church premises.
I fail to understand why such people come to church at all. Who are they pleasing? Have they not seen the wrath of God destroy? Should we not learn from past disasters to come closer to God and not to take our lives for granted?
Let us all learn to live in the fear of God, honour Him for the life he has given us and live it well.
From Mr Noel
Dubai
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