The horse races to see!

Since the Dubai World Cup Horse Race started in 1996, I have never missed a single year of the races and have always watched the event on television (“Dubai World Cup 2018: A guide to the racing event”, Gulf News, March 28). Once a friend had given me a VIP invitation to attend the World Cup, but unfortunately, I could not go. I love horses and enjoy watching the match because it is a very well organised and exciting event with a festive atmosphere. It is always a special thrill to see the race victories. This year I am in Pakistan but I made sure that our television network has the Dubai Racing channel included in our package, even though we have the Arabic one and I don’t know of any other television sports channels will be telecasting the event, I shall still be tuned and cheering my favourite Dubai-Godolphin horses. I wish His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE and ruler of Dubai and the entire team, success at this year’s meet.

From Ms Umbereen Rahman

Pakistan

A real leader of the nation

Iremember the first Dubai World Cup in 1996 and it was an amazing feat! In 1997, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, showed the world what it meant to keep promises and displayed high standards of professionalism. The race was cancelled due to torrential rain and the re-run took place five days later, at no cost to the public. What he did behind the scenes was second to none! He is a true leader.

From Ms Heidi Struiksma

Dubai

Curb illiteracy

It is unfortunate that such beliefs still exist and youngsters are being victimised in the name of religion (“Girl gouges eye out to offer deity”, Gulf News, March 26). If the girl lost her vision, it shows the deep-rooted faith people have in this age of change. Illiteracy is something that still invades some parts of India, thus leading to such thinking among devotees. It could be that the family’s belief system and the children learning about such stories and traditions prompted them to conduct such practices. Only an educated society can help change people and their attitudes. From Mr N. Ramachandran Muscat, Oman

Gun control measures needed

The American government has always been at the forefront of protecting human dignity and basic values (“Hundreds of thousands march for gun control in the US”, Gulf News, March 26). The US government has regularly stood with the growth of humanity as a whole, but sadly, for some time now, it has been reversing its policies. The latest grisly tragedy, killing several children and wounding many, was a slap for our human conscience. The huge march across city streets in the country, where students raised their voice against the government’s defective gun control laws, should give enough food for thought to the country’s leaders, including US President Donald Trump. Children are the wealth of any country. It’s the duty of any government to protect them and keep them safe.

From Mr Thomas M. Parackel India

A warning for all players

Having been caught on camera, Australian cricketer Steve Smith had no other alternative but to confess that he cheated (“Steve Smith suspended for one test after ball tampering scandal”, Gulf News, March 26). Of course, this is neither the first time it has happened nor is it going to be the last. Since I have been following Australian cricket, right from Allan Border’s time, I feel they have won matches only by hook or by crook. They have never played in the spirit of the game. Take the example of Sydney, and the ‘brain fade’ in Bengaluru, India, where they were able to get away from punishment. Unfortunately for them, this time, they were caught red-handed on camera and there was no escape route. Now that the captain himself has accepted the sinister move, it is up to the International Cricket Council (ICC) officials to put an end to such gimmicks by any team, and regain cricket’s lost glory as a gentleman’s game. I feel that not only the players, but even their coaches, should be banned for a minimum of three years. From Mr Srikanth Mahadevan India

Need of the hour

It is really shocking to know that the Indian central government may not form the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) by the due date fixed by the Supreme Court. The need of the hour is a stricter implementation of CMB. If the centre fails to obey the Supreme Court ruling, I feel all the Members of the Legislative Assemblies (MLA) and Members of Parliament (MP) should go on an indefinite fast. If need be, like the farmers of Maharashtra, who walked their way to Mumbai to get their dues, we should go to New Delhi to get our dues. Meanwhile, the state government should also take up the matter with the Supreme Court for the impeachment of the Karnataka Chief Minister, who is adamant. Will the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), its allies and other parties support the ruling party?

From Mr N. Mahadevan

India

The truth is out

It’s unfortunate and sad that all 39 Indians abducted by Daesh in Mosul, Iraq, in the year 2014, have been killed (“India confirms deaths of 39 workers abducted in Iraq”, Gulf News, March 21). It seems that during all these years, Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sushma Swaraj failed to disclose the truth to the nation. One person who escaped from this group said that all 39 were killed but the Indian government did not trust him. The Bharatiya Janata Party government’s diplomacy has failed to act in this case. One can’t believe that either Swaraj or the Indian government was not aware of the deaths of their citizens in Iraq! BJP has been playing politics for the past three years. The BJP government was celebrating the release of 46 nurses trapped in Iraq, but was quiet in this case. Now, the nation not only needs an apology from Foreign Minister Swaraj and the government, but also adequate compensation from the government to the families of all the victims.

From Mr Eappen Elias

Dubai

Feel the pinch

India’s former finance minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, is peeved about the price of tea and coffee at airports in the country. Definitely, the rates they charge are horrifying. But, who is responsible for all of this? It was no different during the United Progressive Alliance tenure, when he was the finance minister. In fact, he was the real culprit, who introduced the service tax, which has now grown like a Goliath, eating away 18 per cent of the public income. From Mr N. Hariharan

India

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