Where is the action? I think it is brave for Simone Biles to come out aginst the doctor who abused her (“Superstar gymnast Simone Biles reveals Larry Nassar sex abuse”, Gulf News, January 17). It is so unfortunate how women face so much oppression. Whether you are a celebrity or a common person, women are opressed and harrassed. It is a problem that transcends culture, religion, money and power. I wish something could be done about this. It is good that people come out, but action also needs to be taken.
From Ms Abhinav Srivastava
Sharjah
Brothels under attack
Perhaps the best way to cut down on trafficking is to legalise, regulate and tax the practice (“Indian state first to criminalise sex buyers to choke demand”, Gulf News, January 16). This way victims can come forward to the law enforcement without fear of prosecution, and customers are not afraid to report suspicious activities. Overall, the entire industry becomes safer for all. Although this is India!
From Mr Rohit Iyengar
UAE
Can’t rely on the courts?
The shocking revelation from the four sitting judges from the Indian Supreme court about its administration, and them blaming Chief Justice, Dipak Misra, was the latest development from the Indian judiciary (“Former top judges join criticism of India’s Chief Justice”, Gulf News, January 15). All these days, the Indian judiciary was applauded for its function and now the revelation of this news is really a shocking one. Corruption and favouritism was not spread in this before. It is a sad state of affairs.
From Mr K Ragavan
India
Bye bye bats
It’s alarming to know that due to the rise in temperature, hundreds of bats died in Australia. (“Bats brains boil in heat wave”, Gulf News January 10). Bats are sensitive mammals, which have unique features and are nocturnal. They can fly in search of food and throughout the day, they cling to the branches of trees upside down. Extensive rise in temperatures have managed to boil their brains, leading to their death. I remember during the mid-seventies when I used to make trips to the Sri Padmananabhaswamy Temple, In Kerala, my home town, when I was little, and there was a huge banyan tree, which was full of bats hanging upside down. It was an amusing sight for me as a child to see these creatures lying still, that too upside down. This time during my holidays, I took my daughter to show her this sight, but surprisingly, there were hardly any bats there. One of my childhood friend who stays near that place said it is very difficult to find bats over there. Climate change is a major factor and this has led to the dwindling of the bat population worldwide. It is high time we stop human intervention and plant more trees and protect these species or else one day these bats will get extinct.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
No action, no help
The Cauvery water dispute verdict is pending for more than a decade now. Though the Indian Supreme Court had, time and again, instructed the Karnataka government to release at least 2000 cusecs water for Tamil Nadu, they have never adhered to the same. Spate of letters from Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers too have not evoked any positive response from the Karnataka Chief Ministers. Whether it is Congress party of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), both have continued to ignore the Supreme Court’s orders. Under the circumstances, even if the final verdict is delivered next month by the Supreme Court, it is still going to be a futile exercise. Ironically, it is the farmers of Tamil Nadu, Kerala who are going to suffer ultimately.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
India
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