This cannot be tolerated
What has happened in Mumbai, India's commercial capital, should be condemned outright as a terrorist act ("Mumbai hit by terrorist attacks", Gulf News, November 27). Killing innocent civilians should not be tolerated and must be punished. Whatever may be the cause, the killing of innocents cannot be tolerated. All the television footage reminded me of what Sri Lanka has been put through.
From Mr Shabir Zain Al Deen
Abu Dhabi
Insanity!
The terror attacks on innocent people is insane. A normal human being can never ever do such heinous acts and, as a result, give Muslims a bad name. I don't believe any Muslim organisation is involved. Islam means peace and it would never teach to kill innocent people.
From Ms Shereen Sultana
Dubai
Barbaric behaviour
It seems that we are living at the mercy of terrorists. I think India has a useless intelligence service. The level of cruelty shows that these barbarians are from outside and not from India. They were showering bullets like water spray on innocent people.
From Mr Saqeer S. V.
Dubai
Website comment
Fear and chaos
I strongly condemn this horrible act of violence. I offer condolences to those whose families died and those who got injured. I wonder how they entered Mumbai and how they were so well planned and knew where to go? There are also some other events going on like the elections. It is too early to say what the terrorists' motives are. They did not demand anything, they just spread fear.
From Mr Nasser
UK
How did it happen?
It is surprising to see these militants targeting tourist areas. It is also supposedly a posh area, so how did the terrorists manage to get in? I think it is either they got help from the inside, or the security was being careless. Laws need to be strict regarding such acts to make sure it does not happen again. I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of all the people who have died in the attacks.
From Mr S. Victor
Dubai
Website comment
Take action
It is very hard to accept that a place like Mumbai is under attack. People should identify the exact criminals behind this and they should be put behind bars.
From Mr Abdul Rahim
Dubai
Website comment
Patience is running out
Why is everyone criticising and commenting on government policies? People are dead and lives are still at risk. The level of calm shown by people in Mumbai is mistaken for their inability to fight back. So what if the US tightened their security after September 9/11? We have not done that because people from more than half of the other states in India come to Mumbai to make a living. We have a certain level of patience and it has been taken for granted by everyone in and around India. Yes, the government over the years has made wrong decisions and is at some point incapable of running the country, but people living there get a raw deal. Frustration is growing and tolerance lessening among Mumbaikers.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi
Name withheld by request
When the chips are down
While a recession is not something anyone looks forward to, it can definitely be a great teacher ("Reconfigure business strategies during crisis", Gulf News, November 25). I believe people rise when the chips are down. One's true character and inner strength is revealed in trying times and people realise how capable they really are. Often, fear flees and faith takes the driver's seat. Most of us have an army of relatives and well wishers, but only when there is a setback, do we come to know how many of them are willing to provide emotional and financial support. These are the times to look deep within and analyse what our futures hold. When the sun finally begins to shine, we would appreciate it more, as we would be able to see it with greater clarity.
From Mr Altaf H. Ladiwala
Mumbai, India
Highway cowboys
Accidents on Dubai's roads persist, despite the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) efforts to educate and create awareness among residents. Even with television and radio commercials and stringent training before issuance of driving licences, a few 'cowboys' treat the roads like a racetrack. They switch lanes rapidly and zigzag their way through the traffic, especially during rush hours. Don't such people care for their lives and the lives of others? Additionally, I suggest that heavy vehicles, buses and pick-up trucks be prohibited from driving in the fast lane at all times. Most heavy vehicle motorists drive in this manner on Emirates Road.
From Mr Antony Hogan
Dubai
Follow the trend
Recently, several schools raised transportation fees on the pretext of the rise in diesel prices. However, since the prices of oil and diesel have begun to fall, the transportation fees should accordingly follow the trend.
From Mr Akhilesh Dwivedi
Dubai
Careless fun
With the change in climate and the weather becoming more favourable, a greater number of people are spending weekends and holidays holding picnics and barbecues. However, most merrymakers do not care enough to dispose waste in garbage bins. Moreover, some people actually grill their food in public and private parks and on the corniche, despite the presence of clear 'Do not barbecue' signs. I urge the authorities to penalise violators.
From Mr Majeed K. M.
Abu Dhabi
Tired of waiting
On a normal working day, after 6pm, an hour is the average time a person has to wait in queue to get on a bus from Bur Dubai to Sharjah. On a Thursday, it could take up to two hours. Once someone has boarded a bus, it takes at least 15 minutes for the bus driver to collect the fare from passengers and distribute tickets. The total time spent on a journey of 20 kilometres is almost two hours and 30 minutes! I request the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to improve the process and arrange for more buses from Sharjah to Dubai, during peak hours.
From Mr Mithun Ajith
Dubai
The management of RTA replies: RTA is progressively improving the level of its services with the arrival of new buses. It is hoped that there will be a vast improvement in transport service quality by the middle of next year.
New world order
Beyond politics, widening gaps between the periphery and market, key issues of climate change, global finance and breakthroughs in bio-technology, the rise of new forms of extremism would serve to dictate the terms of the new world order ("Is a new world order in the making?", Gulf News, November 24). While trade plays an intricate role in determining the changes in geo-politics, other issues cannot be ignored. I would like to add that no new world order would sustain itself without a universally accepted system of global governance.
From Ms Ambika Vishwanath
Mumbai, India
