Thankful for the radars
The introduction of radars for drivers using the hard shoulder, comes as absolutely wonderful news (‘New Sharjah radars target drivers who use hard shoulder’, Gulf News, December 17). This has been a problem in Sharjah for quite some time now. The issue is more pronounced especially at signals where drivers don’t wait in line for their turn and cut into the lane. There has to be a solution at such signals as well.
From Ms Patricia
Sharjah
Website comment
Add lanes
A good move, but Sharjah seriously needs to think about improving its road network as well. The situation is only going to get worse because many major roads narrow to three lanes once motorists enter Sharjah. Even bypass roads are packed during rush hour.
From Mr Hari
Sharjah
Website comment
Heavy traffic
All this happens due to a lot of people moving to Sharjah from Dubai. I used to leave home at 6.30am, but now I leave at 5.45am. Sharjah roads are not ready for such heavy traffic. There need to be more tunnels and bridges, as well as new communities built in less congested areas. I agree that the roads need to increase at least by one lane.
From Mr Yousuf
Sharjah
Website comment
Dangerous cycling
There is a significant increase in the number of cyclists on the roads of Bur Dubai. Many of these cyclists do not respect the traffic rules and they are even cycling on the wrong side of the road or crossing roads as they want and not stopping at signals. They also do not wear any reflective clothing or have any reflective objects on their cycles. This dramatically increases the chance of an accident. While I am all for cycling as a healthy and cheap option for people, basic traffic rules need to be tightened for the safety of all.
From Mr Gautam Kotriwala
Dubai
Restaurant hygiene
I am writing this letter regarding the hygiene practices required in food shops or cafeterias. I have noticed in many shops that people prepare food with their bare hands. I worry about how this act can transmit many diseases to the consumers. We don’t know while preparing food, whether they wash their hands thoroughly or cover their heads and keep their work environment clean. I know that the Dubai authorities have done much to increase food and service standards of restaurants, but it is my suggestion that the concerned authorities make gloves mandatory for food handlers in these establishments in order to maintain hygiene in the workplace. The person preparing the food should wear gloves and cover their heads always.
From Mr Ahmad Ali Shokat
UAE
Encourage secularism
Sectarianism is slowly taking shape in India since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government stormed to power a few months ago (‘Government has done no wrong: Narendra Modi’, Gulf News, December 18). First of all, dividing citizens in the name of religion is a dangerous trend, which cannot be accepted by a responsible society. A powerful political thought process should not back this, but rather encourage people to be secular in their thinking and to improve unity before the world community. Otherwise, it is an embarrassment for present-day culture and living. It will seriously affect the ideology that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to implement, to further lead India strongly in every aspect. It is high time the party held high-level meetings with senior executives who have influence among the masses, to convince them of the aspirations of the government. Supporters with adverse thinking would damage the party’s image and that would in turn, affect the progress the country is looking forward to. It is time the whole of BJP support the Indian government by forgetting all its differences.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Oman
Political divides
While the irresponsible utterances of some of the BJP members is a matter of serious concern and is rightfully condemned and disapproved of by everybody, including the prime minister, it is nothing but a political gimmick to continue raising this issue repeatedly after apologies have been tendered. It will neither help the country nor the parties who are active. It is time to move on. It is also time for Modi and senior leaders of the BJP to exercise control over the fringe elements within the party. If allowed to continue, they will not only wreck the BJP’s chances in the upcoming elections, but will ensure the opposition sows deep mistrust in the minds of minorities, who otherwise would have let these irresponsible incidents go unnoticed. After all, there have been such hate speeches made by members of other political parties in the past and they still do it. As a man who talked about development for all, Modi has the highest responsibility to ensure the members of his party do not air their extreme views and create acute embarrassment for himself and for the party he represents.
With regards to Modi’s announcement of a moratorium on sectarian violence, I don’t think there is anything wrong in this as these ten years are his time frame to achieve what he wants.
From Mr Ganeshan Srinivasan
UAE
Hidden agendas
BJP lawmaker Sakshi Maharaj’s remarks against minorities and the hate speeches made by them have begun an uproar in the Indian parliament (‘Modi asks BJP lawmakers to use restraint’, Gulf News, December 17). We can see that violence against minorities in India is on the rise as last month in New Delhi, a church was burned down and the culprits have still not been arrested.
Back in 1999, a Christian missionary, Graham Stains, and his two sons were burnt alive by a Hindu mob and Dara Sigh, who was an active member of Bajarang Dal, was arrested and sentenced to jail. Last week in Agra, it was alleged that around 300 Muslims who were slum dwellers, were forcefully converted to Hinduism, with promises of monetary benefits and ration cards. I believe there is a hidden agenda to destabilise the secular identity of India and all secular parties in India should unite against the BJP’s agenda.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Stopping violence
Since 1947, Pakistani leaders seem to be fighting against the election of quality leaders for the whole of Pakistan. The community seems not to be aware of the election policy. Without any reason, they are facing problems in every corner, with violence in the education sector, in residential areas, mosques, temples and in church areas in both Pakistan and India. Both central government leaders and members of parliament are playing with human lives. So I request for an updated human rights policy for safety of schools in these violence-stricken sectors. As for the churches, temples and mosques in Pakistan and India, the authorities need to stop all acts of violence against them. The communities of Muslim, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in both countries have families and children.
From Mr Nasser Ahmad
UAE
Let everyday be Earth Day
I really appreciate the decision of the Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority to cut down on the wastage of water, by saving electricity and water. I feel that this step was long overdue. Paying extra tariff under the red band will surely remind us to switch off extra lights or fix a leaking tap. This will also help the authorities to figure out the people who are responsible for wasting electricity and water. I would like to remind the authorities that there are some people who are really careful when it comes to electricity and water wastage. Why should they pay for the fault of someone else? I would like to request the authorities to first identify those who waste resources by monitoring their daily usage. I also feel that installing touch-sensor taps and movement sensitive lights in all schools and public places, would also help to minimise the use of water and electricity. We understand that these types of rules are actually for our betterment and would benefit our future generations.
From Ms Shikha Dixit
Sharjah
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