Secret admirer

Sir — A like on a social media platform has emerged as a tool to instinctually express approval for a person or content. With every ‘like’ that netizens give or receive, they become part of a social exchange that plays to the human need for validation. However, X has introduced a new update in which these ‘likes’ will be hidden, thereby preventing users from being able to see who liked their posts. According to the X chief, Elon Musk, the new move is aimed at protecting users’ privacy. Perhaps this could also relieve some pressure off young lovers who often tweet in the hope that their crushes would end up liking their witty posts.

Divya Chaturvedi, Patna

Deadly blaze

Sir — It was heartbreaking to read that at least 45 Indians were among the 49 migrant workers who were killed in a devastating fire in a building in Kuwait’s Mangaf area (“49 killed in Kuwait inferno”, June 13). Indians constitute 21% of Kuwait’s population and 30% of its workforce. However, they are often forced to work in deplorable conditions and are exploited by their employers.

The six-storeyed building that was gutted was packed beyond capacity and the residents crammed into narrow rooms without adequate access to safety and hygiene. Foreign workers spend fortunes to obtain visas to work in the Gulf countries. Their sorry state of affairs is thus disheartening.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

Sir — Hundreds of Indians migrate to the Gulf countries every year owing to the better paying employment opportunities in that region. The tragic building fire in Kuwait has broken the dreams of the 45 Indians who lost their lives in the incident. Although the Indian government has announced an ex gratia of two lakh rupees for the bereaved families, it is not enough.

Between March 2021 and December 2023, the Indian embassy in Kuwait received over 16,000 complaints from Indians about delays in payment of salaries, sub-standard accommodation, and harassment. New Delhi should address these complaints at the earliest to mitigate the plight of the Indian workers.

Jakir Hussain, Kanpur

Myths busted

Sir — Hilal Ahmed’s column, “Myths demolished” (June 13), addressed several misconceptions regarding the voting behaviour of Muslims in the general elections. One of the prevailing myths is that Muslims tend to be influenced by religious motivation while casting their votes. This is inaccurate. While religious identity is a factor, Muslim voters are influenced by other crucial issues, such as socio-economic crises and unemployment, that affect them directly.

Tapomoy Ghosh, East Burdwan

Against hate

Sir — In “Hate rejected” (June 13), Mehmal Sarfraz elucidated how the Lok Sabha elections spelt hope for democracy. However, the column did not raise the most pertinent question: has the loss of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral majority humbled Narendra Modi ?

Modi has still not shouldered the responsibility for the major upset in Faizabad, where the Ram temple is located, and the party’s failure to achieve its target of ‘chaar sau paar’ seats. Instead, he has been keeping up the facade that all is hunky-dory in the saffron dispensation. Modi has been taught a vital lesson by the Indian electorate but he is reluctant to take cognisance of it.

Avinash Godboley, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh

Sir — India voted to uphold democracy and reject the BJP’s religious polarisation. The saffron party has been exploiting the fault lines between religious communities to reap electoral dividends. It is shameful that the politicians holding ministerial posts indulged in spreading Islamophobia during the election campaign.

Sujit De, Calcutta