We all felt calm and safe
I was in the area when the fire started at the Address Downtown Dubai and I was amazed by how the authorities managed the crowds (‘14 suffer minor injuries in Downtown blaze’, Gulf News, January 2). Nobody panicked, all the people around were calm at that moment. Other than a few people in the hotel, nobody was injured, thanks to the authorities.
We were very proud of the Dubai Police and Civil Defence. There was praise all around from the people present, because they were proud of the fireworks going off as planned, despite the fire. The authorities kept the peace. I was amazed – we all felt safe and we all absolutely were. May God bless all those who helped out and shelter those who are always making sure we are safe here in this country. From Ms Meann Amparo Dubai Facebook comment
The show goes on!
I couldn’t believe it when I heard about the fire! I held my breath and just prayed for the fire to be put out. Then the authorities proved their capability with the show going on! It was superb action in a timely manner. The night was wonderful and we didn’t feel the effect of smoke or anything. We were all focused on Burj Khalifa shining high! Happy New Year, UAE! From Ms Geetha Ravindranath UAE Facebook comment
Well managed
T he fire was impressively managed, as the authorities brought it under control despite having such a large crowd within a short distance from its location. Then, within a couple hours, we saw such amazing fireworks. A big salute to the great leaders, Dubai’s Civil Defence and the Dubai Police. Dubai has, as always, won the hearts of millions of people from all across the world. I’m proud to live in Dubai and I love the UAE. Happy New Year to all, with many best wishes. From Mr Firdaus Alam UAE Facebook comment
Keeping us at peace
I salute the Civil Defence authorities and Dubai Police for saving a lot of lives on New Year’s Eve and getting things under control. The authorities here remain vigilant so that we can sleep peacefully. A big thank you to them for the great work. From Mr Allwyn Thomas Pais UAE Facebook comment
Doing their jobs
I t was amazing teamwork. Hats off to the management for the outstanding accountability and loyalty shown in
their profession. I’m really becoming a fan of how Dubai is so well organised. From Mr Osama Khan UAE Facebook comment
Showing greatness
W hen the fire ensued, people were happy during the fireworks, with words of praise for how well the authorities dealt with the scenario. It showed determination and the country’s ability to excel at crisis management, as well as the commitment of Dubai to deliver what it has promised to the whole world. God bless Dubai. From Mr Mohammad Al Tantawy Dubai Facebook comment
Improving national relations
B ilateral ties between India and Pakistan have to be normalised soon, so they can get moving with their respective progressive development (‘Roller coaster year ends on a high note for neighbours’, Gulf News, January 1). Resolutions in each country’s agenda for the New Year should reveal tremendous effort from both governments, to proactively bring progress to the nations as a whole.
Verbal abuses should stop on the part of those in higher levels, in order to ward off diplomatic stalemates. Political progress can turn into the improvement of bilateral relations. The leaders of both India and Pakistan met earlier in Paris, France, during the Climate Change Conference and I believe that it indicates initiative towards a more fruitful relationship for both countries. We expect stronger ties between these two countries in 2016. From Mr M. K. Gunaseelan Abu Dhabi
Shameful exploitation
T he Pongal Suvidha train ticket fares in India peaking during the holiday season, is shameful. It is really bad that the railway system, which is considered to be the cheapest mode of transport in India, is now turning out to be a money spinning organisation.
The railway fares are proving to be worse than the city taxis and airlines, which leave no opportunity to fleece passengers, even during the recent floods. At this rate, I am afraid, only God will be able to save the common man. Are these the “good days” that were promised to us by Prime Minister Narendra Modi? From Mr Viswanathan Virugambakkam, India
Celebrate every day
I think we need to start treating every day as a new day, instead of only January 1. The sun rises in the same way and the stars shine the same way. Life is too short for wasting time in quarrelling about different religions, castes, creeds and colour. To live indiscriminately and by celebrating each new day, the world seems to be always smiling back at us. Why don’t we live with the spirit of brotherhood and enjoy every day? From Mr Mahendrakumar Babariya Dubai
When will we act?
H ave the inhuman acts of terrorists become more rampant and has our society started taking it as a fact of life (‘Iraqi woman recounts sex slave ordeal’, Gulf News, January 1)? The dastardly acts of those in the Daesh camps should have evoked a stronger response from the citizens of the world. Nadia Murad, who escaped from her tormentors, was bold enough to share her case with the world and it is for us to decide how to safeguard our sisters from being tortured.
Yazidi or not, a woman has a right to live in this world without being enslaved and used as a commodity. For us to react appropriately, safety has to be the main concern, regardless of a person’s religion or nationality.
This has to stop. Terrorism has no religion and the pious should initiate steps to make sure that this does not happen. I am sure that Islam, or any religion, will never support terrorism or encourage brutality and inhuman acts.
Murad narrated her story before the United Nations and the members vowed to fight these kinds of atrocities against women. The videos of chained women being sold as commodities has already gone viral, but what action did we take to protect them?
Let us all unite against these dreadful acts that create serious physical and psychological impacts on the victims. Let’s eradicate terrorism from this world. Let the world unite for this. From Mr Eappen Elias Dubai
Need for peace and unity
A s a student in this shrinking world, I feel that there is a great need for peace, harmony and cooperation between countries, communities and individuals as a whole. When terrorist groups such as Daesh and Boko Haram strike, the world should stand strong and unite against these groups instead of playing the blame game. Countries should come together and put an end to such groups as soon as possible, as there is a great threat to millions of innocent lives.
By putting an end to such groups, it ensures a bright future for the next generation and the generations to come. After leaving the year 2015 behind and welcoming the year 2016, let us hope that history does not repeat itself and that this year will be a year of peace and mercy and that the people in these terrorist groups come to their senses and stop all the hideous crimes that they are committing. There is still a ray of hope in this world — that all humans will live together in peace and harmony without any violence. From Mr Joshua Rozario Dubai
Playing with fire
A lready, India’s Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, is angering the public for dragging the name of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley into the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) dirt. Now, he has come out with a bouncer, claiming that the DDCA officials have sought favour in return for their son’s selection. This is a very serious allegation that should be thoroughly probed and the culprit/s should be exposed and punished.
When Kejriwal handed over the case to Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, he should have given this information as well, in order to make a full inquiry. Instead, he went to the media, so I feel it is nothing but a publicity stunt to divert the attention of the public from his allegations against Jaitley, since those have now been proven to be wrong. I feel that if his allegations against Jaitley are wrong, Kejriwal should definitely tender a public apology. From Mr N. Mahadevan Mylapore, India
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