What has happened to India’s democracy?
The religious violence in India can be partly blamed on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government because the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) political tactics have helped in creating the divisions that leads to incidents like the murder of the man in Delhi, India for allegedly eating beef (‘Will they bring back my dead father?’, Gulf News, October 1). He is travelling the world and the people of India are suffering like this. Where are the human rights? Where is the democracy? Where is the government?
We used to learn from our childhood that Indian democracy is for the people, of the people and by the people!
But here we are killing each other. Modi is enjoying his chair, roaming here and there, but in India everywhere, people are suffering.
From Ms Habz Hiba
UAE
Facebook comment
Shame on extremists!
India is a secular nation. We’ve been attacked, invaded and conquered over centuries. However, with each invasion, India in her inimitable style absorbed, evolved and created a new layer that added to the cultural richness that is my country. She is beautiful, diverse, vast and above all tolerant. So, a news of this nature is heartbreaking. I am proud to be an Indian, to be part of the world’s largest democracy. I refuse to let these extremist elements take away from that pride. Shame on them and shame on those who failed to stop them.
From Ms Megha Shastri
Abu Dhabi
Filling minds with hatred
Please do not blame all Hindus, as all faiths have people following wrong practices. There are extremist Hindu social and political groups in India that should be banned. These organisations are filling the minds of people with hatred.
From Mr Imtiyaz Baig
UAE
Facebook comment
Creating division
Is this really secular India’s face? They are asking for temples in Islamic countries but, on the other hand, minorities in India are not free to spend their life in accordance to their own religion. Such incidents are the basis of divisions.
From Mr M. Imran Ch.
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Sending bad message
Please, irrespective of religion or caste, do not harm or kill any person for eating something. It is everybody’s choice. There are numerous Hindus who eat beef, will they also be killed? We should stop such bad practices, otherwise it will send the wrong message.
From Mr Raja Nair
Muscat, Oman
Facebook comment
Prevalent intolerance
It is a shame that an old man was mercilessly beaten to death over rumours that the family had consumed beef. It is sickening that there are people in India who do not have the liberty to make their food choices and instead are being chased out of their houses and attacked by mobs. It is deeply saddening that despite the country making remarkable progress, minorities don’t have the right to do as they like. This tragic incident goes on to prove that illiteracy and narrow-mindedness remains prevalent even in the so-called educated society of today.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Grant us courage for future
These are bad times for Muslims in India. We can’t even predict what lies in store for us under the BJP government. Give us the courage to remain steadfast and face all to come.
From Mr Tehseen Munaf
UAE
Facebook comment
This is nonsense!
This is disgraceful that while we are talking about our Mars mission and the country’s great achievements, there is a population in India that remains illiterate and barbaric. Killing someone for eating something is absolute nonsense.
From Mr Junaid Ahcom
Dubai
Facebook comment
Fears extremism
Today my country is becoming intolerant. Today we have pockets of intolerance from many religions in every nook and corner of the country since the advent of Modi, who doesn’t utter a word of remorse or condemnation.
From Mr Suhail Iqbal
Mumbai, India
Facebook comment
Lowest of lows
Humans! We are in our lowest of lows! Shame on us Indians, shame on this happening in such a beautiful country. The act of few individuals has cost us billions in our pride.
From Mr Ibrahim Badsha
Dubai
Facebook comment
Justifying murder
What is so wrong with eating beef? Does it really justify a person to use their religion to beat a man to death?
From Mr James Brown
UAE
Facebook comment
An atrocious act
Where is India heading? It’s shameful and disgraceful that this happened, and I think that all the people involved in this crime should be punished so that no one dares to repeat such an atrocious act again!
From Ms Parinita Yonzone Chhetri
Dubai
Facebook comment
Once in, hard to get out
You can see different types of people living in different styles of life around the world. Many people do not know how to handle money and control expenses. If you are a regular salaried person, as soon as you get it, keep a certain percentage of the money aside and never touch it and always bear in mind your income is less than the actual one you receive. As much as possible, avoid taking bank loans and credit cards. Once you are in, it is very difficult to come out. You may not have enough money to complete your house construction, children’s education and, in such cases, you approach the bank for a loan. Once you have the loan, you may have the tendency to spend it for unwanted expenses and that will certainly make you a fall. If you have a clear budget in expenses, you will never go in debt. I am against taking loans and credit card applications. I always try to spend money looking at the income first and never go beyond its limit. Spend money for necessary things, which are unavoidable. Otherwise, you will repent.
From Mr Thottikamath Balaraman
Dubai
Cancer: A losing the battle?
In my childhood years, a friend’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and that is when I realised how cruel it was. She was also shocked by the diagnosis and had to undergo treatment. I have this memory of going past my friend’s home once and seeing her mother stepping out of her home to head to the hospital. I saw her face and was stunned because she had lost all her hair and looked a different person. A few years later, she succumbed to the disease. My wife’s aunt was also diagnosed with cancer and also lost her life. She was a nice woman and very affectionate towards my wife. Another person I know of is my brother’s father-in-law who was suffering from stomach cancer. He got operated twice to cure the affected parts, but the cruel illness could not be brought under control. He eventually lost the battle. This made us realise that anyone can face this struggle.
From Mr T. A. Palani
Dubai
Distracted by new atrocities
I believe that very few of the kidnapped girls in Nigeria throughout the years have been reunited with their parents and families. Has the world forgotten about them because of Daesh, Syria, the refugee crisis, the US Presidential elections, the Volkswagen scam, Fifa and all the other major news items?
I remember the US First Lady, Michelle Obama, making a big statement about this, but what has she done since or was it all a public relations exercise? The world should not lose focus on other threats such as Boko Haram. More importantly – the world should do something to help Nigeria recover these girls who have probably been sold off to slavery or forced into ‘marriage’ or simply used as sex slaves.
This story needs to be revived to spur some action.
From Mr David Woodward
Dubai
Reducing casualties in unavoidable incidents
It is unfortunate that more than 700 people were killed in the stampede during the annual Haj pilgrimage a couple of weeks ago. The stampede happened less than two weeks after a giant construction crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which killed more than a 100 innocent people.
In July 1990, a deadly stampede occurred wherein 1,426 pilgrims suffocated in a tunnel near Makkah. The numerous stampedes, fires, riots and other untoward incidents at the time of Haj, the world’s largest annual gathering of people, indicates that there needs to be more awareness among the public.
To curb future incidents, various suggestions have been made by the general public, such as the Haj quotas being reduced to the available capacity of the holy site. I also don’t think that Haj visas should be given to children and that an age restriction could reduce number of pilgrims, but it also helps because no one wants to hear about children being victims to such incidents. Allocation of a separate track in Mina for women and elderly people could also be a helpful proposal.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
Dubai
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