Rising costs in India have disillusioned man on street

Readers discuss football, philanthropy and teacher pay

Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, delivers the keynote address during the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue Asia Security Summit in Singapore, on Friday, June 1, 2018. Paul Miller / Bloomberg

In the by-elections held for the Indian Parliament and a number of state assemblies across the nation, the results of which were declared last week, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party could only win one of the 11 seats it contested. This was a strident message from the Indian electorate to the ruling party. The BJP has to listen to the people with diligence and sincerity. Measures like demonetisation and the hasty introduction of the goods and services tax as well as high inflation, the widespread neglect of infrastructure and rising fuel prices have disillusioned the common man.

General elections are scheduled for 2019 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face the possibility of electoral defeat. The BJP must pull up its socks, otherwise even the charisma and the oratory of Mr Modi might not lead the party to victory. I predict that the party will be marginalised and left to languish in opposition unless it starts listening to those who voted for it and who entrusted it with their futures.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

What Zinedine Zidane did next...is anyone’s guess

I am writing in response to the article Zinedine Zidane says 'time is right' for him to step down as Real Madrid manager (May 31): it will be interesting to see where Mr Zidane will be headed next.

Name withheld by request

A great player and great coach.

Habib Rahim Hazim, Abu Dhabi

To get good teachers, schools should pay quality wages

I refer to the article UAE British schools facing science and maths teacher recruitment crisis (May 30): teachers are simply not paid enough. Schools want experts and high quality teachers but are not willing to pay the sufficient rate. If they want good teachers, they need to pay good money.

Mary Smith, Dubai

A wonderful act of giving befitting of the holy month

I write in reference to your article 'It's good business': billionaire doctor Shamsheer Vayalil on giving half of his fortune to charity (June 1): this piece on the inspiring philanthropist doctor Shamsheer Vayalil was excellent. Having amassed a fortune of $1.5 billion in the space of a decade by establishing a network of 20 hospitals, Dr Vayalil is now ready, on his 41st birthday, to donate half of his wealth to charity.

It is a truly remarkable act inspired by The Giving Pledge, an initiative launched by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Mr Vayalil becomes the 13th billionaire to do so. It is very fitting that this donation should fall on the Year of Zayed, when we celebrate the charity and tolerance advanced by the UAE’s Founding Father. It is also fitting that his donation should fall during the holy month. At a time of misery in much of the world, this gesture and story are wonderful.

Name withheld by request