A mouthful of rubbish
US President Donald Trump’s reported description of Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified African countries as ‘shitholes’ in an Oval Office meeting with US senators to discuss immigration on Thursday, is an insult to humanity (“The heartbeat of racism is denial”, Gulf News, January 14). Trump went too far this time, and has yet again proven that he is not fit to be the President. The 55-nation African Union said the remarks were ‘clearly racist’ and asked for an apology from President Donald Trump. I think all the countries of the world should officially condemn Trump’s remark and demand an apology.
From Mr Ejaz Ahmad Magoon
Lahore, Pakistan
Changing for the better
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to me, is one of the most respected leaders in the world. The Ruler of Dubai announced 8 pillars of development to unify the education system in the Emirates as a part of Vision 2021.The studies are based on critical thinking skills, teamwork and innovation. My school is changing rapidly to present me with a better tomorrow. I like the changes. I consider myself lucky to be present in a place where children are given such importance.
From Mr Sanith Santhasa Piyadigamage
Dubai
Viewing the Taj Mahal
The Indian government has done well to cap the number of daily visitors to the Taj Mahal, the 17th century marble mausoleum in Agra, to 40,000 per day, with a maximum entry, valid for only three hours (“India limits visitors to save Taj Mahal”, Gulf News, January 4). Last week, a colleague of mine from Mumbai travelled all the way to Agra, but could not get entry to the monument, since it was already overcrowded. The tourists who had gone to the monument in the morning, did not exit till the evening. There were three queues with about 800 people in each, waiting to visit the building. They had been waiting for entry for about three hours. The ticketing window was yet merrily issuing fresh tickets. As a result most of the people waiting outside could not enter, even though they possessed valid tickets. So my colleague had to return with his family, disappointed. There was no refund possible. The entire expense on travel to Agra and the hotel stay, was all wasted. I suggest that in the future the entry ticket should specify not merely the visit date, but also the specific time of entry and exit.
From Mr Rajendra Aneja
Dubai
Need better selection process
It is a real surprise that the Indian cricket coach and Captain, instead of selecting horses for courses, preferred to select players of their choice, who are better players in One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 cricket, rather than Test matches (“No respite for India in second Test”, Gulf News, January 12). You are dead right that cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma’s average is dismal outside Asia that too when compared with the average runs of KL Rahul and Rahane, who have an average of 50 plus runs in foreign countries. It was foolish of the coach to prefer their blue eyed boys instead of more talented and performing players like Rahul and Rahane. Hope good sense will prevail when they sit for selection of players in the remaining two Tests, where the seam and swing would be more than that of Cape Town.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
India
Oppressed by caste
It’s unfortunate that untouchability, on the basis of caste discrimination, still exists in India (“Caste war spreads from Pune to Mumbai”, Gulf News, January 3). Even after 71 years of independence, India is still following the caste system. Still, lower caste people are not allowed to enter into the houses of the upper classes or are not allowed to take water from wells. Even though India has advanced in economic and technological fields, independence has remained in the primitive stage in caste and religion. Members of the Dalit community are still marginalised and deprived of their rights. Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power, hundreds of Dalits or lower class people are beaten up or killed in various states and no action has been taken. Now it is visible that the Dalits and backward class people are empowered politically and are trying to be in the limelight in mainstream politics, but the right wing BJP which is led by the upper class, hamper their growth.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
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