Rowdy MPs bring shame to India

Readers call for stiff sentences for those who drive under the influence of alcohol, other topics: The Rolling Stones, Indian parliament

A reader says activities of some of the MPs in Indian parliament have brought shame to the country. Prakash Singh / AFP

Some of the recent events in the Indian parliament - when legislators resorted to physical violence and used pepper spray on colleagues - over the creation of a new state called Telangana marked a new low in the country's parliamentary democracy and etiquette. If the leaders behave in this manner, what can one expect from demonstrators on the street?
Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai
Don't spare those who drive under the influence
Drink driving should not be tolerated under any circumstance (Call for legal crackdown on drivers in UAE who kill, February 19).
However, the authorities should also understand that in some fatal accidents, the driver is not completely at fault. For instance, a pedestrian suddenly moves in front of a car and the driver hits him or her. In such cases, it is actually the driver who becomes a victim.
On the other hand, those who drink and drive, regardless of whether they cause an accident or not, should be punished. A driver needs to be focused and have responsibility.
Drink driving is a serious offence and should not be dealt with lightly.
Moreover, instead of safety campaigners and authorities asking for stiffer penalties to be imposed against traffic offenders, they should ban the consumption and sale of alcohol across the country.
Fatima Suhail, Abu Dhabi
In my humble opinion, a person who drives under the influence of alcohol is a criminal as he knows that by doing so he is breaking the law, but he chooses to do it anyway. That's like saying it is OK for shisha cafe owners to sell shisha even though a law has been passed banning it in certain areas.
Laws are made for a reason. They are there to protect the citizens and residents of a nation, but if the sentence is weak, those inclined to break the law will continue to do so knowing their sentence won't be long and when they are released, they are more than likely to repeat the same behaviour.
Name withheld by request
I wonder how many people have responded to the article while driving.
Drink driving is just a minority act compared to the habitual lane changing, using phones, speeding, having ill-maintained cars, lack of driver training and competence, arrogance shown by certain people, tailgating, having children running around inside and on the driver, lack of indicators, using hazard lights to stop where ever you want, double parking at corners, dropping people off on highways, school buses ignoring road rules, impatience and so on. Do I need to go on?
Mat Kennedy, Dubai
I am commenting on the news report FNC members have mixed reaction to lowering driving age in UAE (February 17).
I think age, to a degree, is irrelevant. It is ultimately the training and quality of the driver that matters.
There are more than enough older people who should not be allowed on the road.
Brett Pearson, Abu Dhabi
Rolling Stones gave their best
This concert was the best performance that has ever taken place at the du Arena (Rolling Stones show knowledge of UAE as they rock Yas Island arena, February 21). Those "wrinkly rockers" put musicians half their age to shame.
John Campbell, Abu Dhabi
The review of the concert, The Rolling Stones thrill Abu Dhabi (February 22), mentions some of the "glaring omissions". That's a bit harsh for a band that had so many hits to choose from that they couldn't possibly play them all.
If I'm half as fit as Mick Jagger when I reach 70, then I'll be a lucky woman indeed. It was outstanding.
The only sad part was the two merchandise stalls. They could have had rows of them and sold so much more.
Lesley Cully, Dubai
I was intrigued to read that 60-year-old Briton, John Francis of Al Ain, had "first watched The Rolling Stones in Richmond when they had not yet had their first hit record" (Rolling Stones show knowledge of UAE as they rock Yas Island arena, February 21).
That would have been in 1963, when Mr Francis was 10 years old. Interesting. Did he sneak into the Crawdaddy Club at that age, or did they play at his Primary School fete?
Gareth Jones, Abu Dhabi
The concert was great. But there was no proper arrangement for transportation.If Yas or the du Arena cannot manage and organise transportation for fans, then perhaps they should not go for such a big concert.
We waited for two hours and there wasn't one taxi in sight. This is unacceptable. How are we supposed to get home?
Homa Vafaie Farley, Abu Dhabi