It is sad to know that India’s Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has retracted his Hindu terror remarks. I do not know why Shinde took a U-turn when it is obvious that the BJP has links with the RSS, Bajrang Dal and many Hindu fascist groups that believe in terrorism and create negative atmosphere, threatening peace and tranquility in the country. Also, it is the Congress party’s hypocrisy, on one hand, it gives the impression that the party is abiding by democratic rules and principles and intends to do welfare works for minorities, on the other, it agrees with the terms and conditions set by the BJP. In tendering an apology over terror remarks, the Congress party has shown its true colors. It is also very obvious that no party is concerned over the plight of Muslims and they just look at this community as vote bank. Seeing in this line, Muslims must unite and form a national political party and contest the elections, if they win some seats they can address the problems and challenges their community is facing.

Anees Lokhande

Alkhobar

A good initiative

The Consulate General of India, Jeddah, is doing a commendable job by focusing on the grievances of distressed Indian workers. The initiatives that are being taken by the consulate are commendable and liked by one and all. I think this is an excellent attempt to reach out to the expatriate community in the Kingdom. This open-house forum has been there in existence but due to lack of adequate publicity, the NRIs of various categories were not making good use of the facility. The consulate should consider ways and means to protect its nationals working in the Kingdom by forming fact-finding missions to analyze and understand the problems faced by the immigrant workforce and provide solutions. Every Indian citizen should make the most of this good initiative by encouraging more Indians to attend this open house and bring their genuine grievances to the fore so that the mission is able to find solutions for them.

Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki

Jeddah

Saudization problem

The expected and logical outcome of forced Saudization is revealed in the article “Employees quitting after training peeve bosses” (Feb. 17). It’s not just upset bosses we should be worried about but rather the process of hiring people just for the sake of it. Such a move is fraught with risks that can trigger a large-scale catastrophe. Continually seeking to satisfy citizens through temporary fixes is, I am sure, going to create such calamity that the correction will be almost impossible to apply, at least in the short-term.

Muhammad Saifudin

Alkhobar

School or a business?

This refers to the story on fee hike in Al Wurood School. Saudi Arabia has witnessed phenomenal developments during last three decades and expatriates from Indian subcontinent have made commendable contribution in all walks of life in the Kingdom. However, their hardship, financial constraints, growth prospects and daily issues are not taken up by the authorities.

Be it wages, working environment, promotions, working facilities, living standards or education for their kids; they are left far behind expatriates from other countries.

The routine constraints force most of the Asian families to settle down in downtown localities.

Real estate inflation seen an increase of 60 percent during last for years and commodity prices have risen an average of 15 to 20 percent during the same period. The community is finding it difficult to cope with the rising inflation with no salary hike. The community wakes up every day with new challenges to face with, recent being astronomical fee hike in community schools. Beside, Al Wurood School in Jeddah, there are many other international schools in Riyadh that have hiked tuition fee for 2013 academic year. While all these schools are raising the fee multifold, they do not seem to have any plan to upgrade facilities on the pretext of increased rent of the premises housing these schools.

The parents with lower income are suddenly forced to take their kids out and find out alternative economical institutions. The embassy-run schools are overcrowded with probable constraints on expanding the current facilities.

Zahid Chougle

Riyadh

2

The letter “School or a business?” on Al Wurood International School is quiet misleading. The facilities, highlighted by the management, provided to the students are completely true. No Indian school has such facilities. Our approach should always be positive. Similarly, the comment on staff qualification is also deliberately misconstrued. Generally, parents have no intention to tarnish the reputation of a school that provides quality education at an affordable cost. The exorbitant fee hike without sufficient notice period is our major issue. We hope the school management will address the concerns raised by the parents.

Mohammed N

By e-mail