A pragmatic leader creating peace and harmony
It is heartening to know that Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and and International Cooperation, will be conferred with the prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Award for extraordinary work done toward promoting peace and harmony, with his commendable work in protecting youth from extremism and terror activities (‘Mother Teresa award for Abdullah Bin Zayed’, Gulf News, November 20). The Mumbai, India based non-governmental organisation (NGO) called the Harmony Foundation, will confer the award on Shaikh Abdullah in recognition of his relentless effort and commitment in the elimination of extremist activities in the region by educating youth about the detrimental effects of terror activities and maintaining peace, harmony and religious tolerance in the country as well as in the a Middle East.
Youth are the building blocks of society. The country’s future depends on them. But many a times, their impressionable age and the urge of getting a sense of recognition, identity and fellowship makes them get into anti-social activities. Acknowledging the need for leading the youth to walk down the right path and deter them from violence and extremism, Shaikh Abdullah has opened many constructive vistas for the youth that imbibe and promote the importance of peace, tolerance, stability and doing something for the innocent and voiceless. The pragmatic leader’s laudable efforts have borne rich fruits.
From Ms Jayashree Kulkarni
Abu Dhabi
There’s always something
Whenever the Australian cricket team loses a Test match, they always come out with all sorts of tantrums (‘South Africa captain du Plessis charged with ball tampering’, Gulf News, November 19). Decades ago, when they lost the Delhi Test, they came out with the reason that it was the smog that cost them their down fall. Now, after their dismal dismissals in their own den, they have come out with the allegation of ball tampering by the South African captain, Faf du Plessis. Applying saliva on the ball has been the norm and every team has adopted the same method. Ironically, every player does chew gum and hence it could be the same for each and every team. If chewing gum is the cause, then it could also help the catching, especially at the slip, as most of the fielders spit saliva before each delivery of the ball. Under the circumstances, it is time that the International Cricket Council (ICC) came out with a better solution to such malpractices.
From Mr N. Viswanathan
Coimbatore, India
Win some, lose some
Kudos to P. V. Sindhu for winning the China Open Badminton Tournament (‘Sindhu bags first Superseries Premier title’, Gulf News, November 21). To be frank, it was a real comeback win over the Korean Sung Ji Hyun in the semi-finals. We expected Sunday to be a Super Sunday for sports fans in India. However, Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team had a disappointing day in Visakhapatnam, India, which spoiled the party. Anyway, we hope that Kohli and his bowlers will be able to bowl out the Englishmen and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
From Ms Janaki Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Childish politics
Some of the reactions of the opposition parties are indeed laughable and it only displays their abysmal level of ignorance towards India’s demonetisation (‘Middle men going through agony’, Gulf News, November 20). New Delhi, India’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal calls the demonetisation move ‘anti-national’. So according to him those who hold black money and counterfeit money are true nationals? This comes from a man who fought for the New Delhi elections on the basis of curing corruption and whose mentor is the Indian social activist Anna Hazare. Does Kejriwal know Hazare had welcomed the move as a bold step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government? Mamata Banerjee wants a roll back. Does she think that this move is like a fuel price that can be rolled back? The most atrocious comparison came from none other than opposition leader of the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, comparing the Uri attack to the people who he thinks died due to the demonetisation move.
What does all this show? The politicians, particularly from the opposition parties, can stoop to any level to protect their selfish interests. It is ironic, because these people who stage protests inconvenience people going through the wake of demonetisation. They are actually causing inconvenience to the public by staging protests. Some of them are the chief ministers who are expected to show some discipline and conduct.
From Mr Ganeshan Srinivasan
Dubai
A deathly power
The Japanese government needs to stop capturing dolphins them to sell elsewhere for the purpose of entertainment (‘India-Japan nuclear deal and political bugbear’, Gulf News, November 19). Additionally, their recent past nuclear activities have been nothing short of frightening. All nuclear powered countries need to heed this warning, also. Power in the hands of the few are apt to destroy our planet if given to many. Restraint is a little word with a huge meaning. Let’s trust that restraint prevails over hot headed actions and a need to display deathly power.
From Ms Maxene Dodds
UAE
Facebook comment
Worrisome developments
It is not constructive at all for Japan to be seeking nuclear weaponry considering its geopolitical location alone. It is known that in doing so, the countries around Japan will also feel obliged to do so, furthering stalemates. This in some way doesn’t surprise me that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would see this as a possibility, however. Since his election, he has shown his neo-nationalistic colours through his actions and words. Japanese neo-nationalism has been something the world has feared. In the last century, they colonised for the sake of growing their national identity and power in the world and they were brutal warriors who committed many war crimes. This is why since World War II, they have not been militarily active. I don’t think they should start now. Since World War II, they have grown as a great country. Their technological advancements and innovations surpassed many. Their welfare and social programs have been some of the best in the world.
From Ms Anika K.
UAE
Facebook comment
No one helps?
I remember a man walking and carrying his dead wife in his arms from the hospital with his daughter beside him (‘No stretcher: Wife drags ailing husband up hospital ramp’, Gulf News, November 19). This was a video earlier this year that affected and angered many. The people along the road, instead of helping him, they only took videos and uploaded it to their accounts on social media.
From Mr Hernan B. M.
Taguig, Philippines
Facebook comment
Helping the poor
This is Modi’s India where there is no cash in the banks and people are dying while standing in queues for hours and there is no service in hospitals. I feel bad for this poor family who couldn’t get any help for their sick father. May all Indians turn their attention to the poor and try to solve their miseries.
From Mr Khan Sab
Dubai
Facebook comment
Easy to point fingers
Why is everyone blaming Modi? What happened to humanity? Everyone across the world is suffering a battle. Let us not put an exception to India. Let us teach our children to be more human, then all problems across the world will heal by itself.
Let us first think what we have done for the country before we question what Modi has done for the people. It is easy to be sitting at the other end of the table and finding faults.
From Ms U. Krishnamurthy
UAE
Facebook comment
Where are the humans?
I suppose, we are all having some common and civic sense. Still we have some human feelings. How would anyone allow such a horrible act? The hospital is a place where more kind acts happen. Don’t degrade them.
From Ms Krishna Kumari
UAE
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