Hierarchy in India
The article "Blame Abdul Kalam for the Bihar fiasco" by M.J. Akbar (Gulf News, October 10) was amusing. He should read the Constitution of India (Article 356).
The Supreme Court of India through S.R. Bommai's case (1994) and the case of State of Rajasthan v Union of India (1977) has proclaimed the level of impartiality and responsibility that is needed to go along with a request for dissolution of a state assembly.
And the Sarkaria Commission states that responsibility and prudence lies squarely with the state governor and the elected union government, not with the Indian president.
From Mr H.K. Nair
Dubai
Leadership
I congratulate Akbar for such an excellent article on the Bihar fiasco, which is so true and so convincingly presented. I agree about the role of the president but would like to include the prime minister in the same bracket.
I am surprised that the Indian media and the leadership are all silent about the role of the president, as if the office of the president is to be kept out of scope of any discussion, regardless of what it does.
From Mr A. Sharma
Moscow, Russia
Think twice
It is true, the Indian president should be held responsible for the Bihar fiasco. Unfortunately the president has no powers to act according to his own will and has to conform with the prime minister's recommendations.
At best he could remove the Bihar governor and also resign citing the wrong advice of prime minister. This may be a lesson for the governors and future presidents to think twice before dissolving the legislature.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Responsible
Being a "dyed-in-the-wool" loyalist of the Congress Party, Akbar cannot find anything wrong with that party and its office bearers for their political shenanigans that led to the fiasco.
By similar logic, does Akbar believe that the person responsible for the imposition of the infamous General Emergency in India in 1975 was not the then prime minister Indira Gandhi but the late president Dr Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who signed on the proclamation of emergency forwarded by the prime minister?
I expect something better from Akbar.
From Mr S. Chandrasekhar
Dubai
Poor response
The efforts by the Indian administration to deal with the current crisis in Jammu and Kashmir are pathetic. Since the earthquake on October 8, there was no communication with towns such as Uri, Baramulla, Poonch and Tangdhar until October 10.
When India can get a 70mm 280 M tonnes Bofors weapon to an altitude of 9,000 feet above sea level (Kargil), why cannot they have enough machinery available to deal with this crisis?
From Mr S. Wani
Srinagar, Kashmir
Help the needy
We have to do something to help the quake-affected people in Pakistan. It is heart-breaking to see schoolchildren taken out dead from the rubble.
When we cannot bear the sight of our children with a small cut on their finger, just imagine the plight of their parents. I request every company to collect money from each employee to help the needy. This is the least we can do sitting here.
From Mr N. Rahman
Dubai
Add channels
With reference to the earthquake, I request E-Vision to add more Pakistani TV channels, for example, Geo TV, to its basic package for us to stay updated on the latest news. It would be a great favour to the Pakistani community in the UAE.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi
Name withheld by request
Take initiative at work
In the letter "Working during Ramadan" (Gulf News, Online, October 8), the writer suggests that non-Muslims should be able to stop working early because "there is no work to be done anyway". I was raised to believe there is always work to be done.
If your host culture must cease to work during a certain time and you do not, this is a great time to prove your usefulness. Where this reader sees an annoyance, I see a well-trodden route to success.
From Mr J. Myers
North Arlington, Virginia, US
Islamic education
The UAE should establish proper international Islamic schools and universities. It is sad when I see schools and universities multiplying, yet no proper Islamic education.
From Ms N. Saeed
Abu Dhabi
Obscene
I was shocked and ashamed to see the filth that has been published so boldly related to Britney Spears (Gulf News, Tabloid, October 12). It is depressing to see that a Muslim country's leading newspaper lowering its values.
I am disappointed to know that the quality of the news is changing drastically. It is the month of Ramadan, the blessed month, take heed.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
A gesture of love
Expatriates such as Mr Srinivasan ("Cost of living", Gulf News, October 8) may prefer to live a decent life alone in the UAE by leaving their parents back home and making the wife work.
However, many people prefer to share this decent life with their parents as a gesture of respect and love for the hard-earned savings spent by their parents in bringing them up.
I feel no parent would question on living with their children even if they earn Dh4,000 or Dh2,000. At this stage in their life, the gift of seeing their children and grandchildren is far more valuable than money.
From Mr R.A. Mansoor
Dubai
Unwarranted bills
I refer to the news item "Etisalat clients complain of hacked phone lines" (Gulf News, September 19). I was a victim of hackers from the Caribbean Island and my phone bill came to Dh800. How can such a thing happen?
It seems everybody is getting charged unnecessarily. Even though I wrote and pleaded with Etisalat, I ended up paying the bill.
From Ms Z. Abdulla
Dubai
The Management of eCompany replies: Please browse <http://ecompany.ae/eco/isp/english/news/
customeralerts/avoid_downsoft.html> to find comprehensive tips on how to avoid this problem with internet dialler.
eCompany has been warning our customers since this phenomenon surfaced on the web through banners on our home page <www.ecompany.ae>, and through press releases. We advise our customers to be careful when they click "OK" on any pop-up site or bar their international calling before going online.
Moreover, the bill the customer is referring to is from March 2004. We do not keep records for more than six months and hence we cannot investigate this case any further.
