Helping readers help
I would like to take this time to wish Gulf News and its readers a pleasant and prosperous Eid Mubarak (‘Community report: #Stopandcare: Leaving a lasting impact’, Gulf News, July 14). Many thanks to Gulf News for sharing the community report on ‘How to make difference in a small way’, which highlighted Ramadan initiatives in which we can participate and the community report on ‘Leaving a lasting impact’, which gave us an insight to important activities we can do to make our lives worth living. Many people in our society want to do good deeds, but they don’t have enough information and ideas to give back to society. As both reports have been published during Ramadan, I am sure that it might have struck a chord with many readers. After reading, they might have started making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate and towards our mother Earth. I am falling short of words to express my gratitude to Gulf News for publishing these reports. We should all work together for the betterment of society. I would like to quote the words of Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, and working together is success.”
From Ms Rakhi Talreja
Dubai
My hijab, my priority
The dress code issued by India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for the all Indian pre-medical/pre-dental re-examinations is bizarre and leaves me offended, when it comes to my religious freedom. Students are required to sign a declaration in order to get their admission card, which says to wear light clothes with half sleeves, no buttons, brooches, badges or flowers. Among the prohibited items was a scarf, as well as other items like wallets, goggles, handbags, hair pins, hair bands, charms, belts and caps.
As a Muslim girl, my hijab is my priority and the most visible form of it is the head scarf and full-sleeved clothing. I feel safe and comfortable in my hijab, and practice it everywhere, and I request the CBSE authorities to allow all Muslim girls who want to wear it, to do so. As far as the inspections for cheating devices is concerned, it is the duty of the authorities to check, and I have no objection in removing my headscarf and allowing a female security staff member to check me. Having said that, they should allow me to wear the hijab after inspections. If the CBSE board does not agree, then I am afraid many Muslim girls like me would prefer to walk out of the exam.
From Ms Sidra Hassan
Dubai
Insight into national friendships
The Gulf News in a focus piece on the UAE’s charitable activities in Pakistan was very insightful (‘UAE supports major projects in Pakistan’, Gulf News, July 13). It helped me appreciate the brotherly and friendly relations between the UAE and Pakistan and the vision of the UAE in alleviating poverty and health issues in the region.
From Mr Yasser Malek
Dubai
Get to the bottom of this!
The picture in this article shows that additional director general of police Rishiraj Singh had shown disrespect towards Indian Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and one can’t ask respect from another person, it should come from the mind and heart (‘Probe sought in officer ‘Misconduct’, Gulf News, July 13). In India, people elect their representatives and they in turn will become ministers or chief minister. Here, the ministers work and make decisions on behalf of the people’s interest.
Singh is an honest and well-disciplined officer who is acceptable to all common men. Wherever he was assigned he does the work without fear and he has stood for justice. During his tenure as transport commissioner and anti-piracy head, he made a lot of drastic changes and couldn’t complete his task and now willingly he opted to join police force.
Already Kerala DG, T. P. Senkumar has asked for an explanation for the misconduct and hopefully he will get a proper reply. If protocol is violated, Rishiraj Singh should give a proper explanation to the Home Department and make the necessary corrections in order to be a role model for others.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Show respect to cultures
What one wears reflects his or her personality (‘What clothes can say about you’, Gulf News, July 13). In a country where the authorities are liberal in many ways, it’s the moral responsibility of the visitors as well as the expatriates who live here to show respect to the host country and their culture. Unfortunately many of the expatriates feel they can wear what they like with utter disregard to the culture and heritage of the country.
From Mr C. M. Saagar
UAE
Is this effective?
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) grouping is inefficient and ineffective when talking about the threat of Daesh and Al Qaida, when compared with other international groupings of countries. Although Pakistan is a democracy, there is no point in talking with Pakistan as long as the country’s policies are dictated by power centres beyond the political dispensation.
The prosperity of India is mainly attributed to its religious and political diversity, coupled with a vibrant democracy, rather than its population and abundant geographical area. When terrorism emanated from Pakistani territory and directed towards India in its earlier stages, the world maintained a studious silence and when the world felt the heat, it started offensive action, and counter-terrorism attacks, which finally lead to the capture of Osama Bin Laden. The full fledged relationship between India and Pakistan is only a distant dream, given the presence of international players who aim to dominate the region in several ways. But, what is more possible is the increase in people to people contact and trade relations within the parameters of the established norms. Like former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, there should not be a distinction between good terrorism and bad terrorism because terrorism in all forms and manifestations should be condemned.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
He was trying to help
It’s very sad and shocking to read about the tragic accident of the police officer (‘Dubai Police officer killed by truck while helping motorist’, Gulf News, July 13). Our heartfelt condolences to the Dubai Police and the family of the deceased. Ramadan is a month where everyone should exercise a lot of restraint, but unfortunately, some drivers do not show any consideration to human lives. It’s high time the authorities had stricter controls against such motorists.
From Mr Mohammad S.
Dubai
Sympathies and sadness
My condolences to the victim’s family. It’s very sad that an officer died while giving a helping hand to someone in need. I pray that God grants him a place of rest and convey my condolences to his family left behind.
From Mr Slim
UAE
Website comment
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