The Hindu Editorial : March 15,2019

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THE HINDU EDITORIAL – March 15, 2018, is one of the must-read section for the competitive exams like  NIACL AO Prelims Exam, IBPS SO Mains Exam. These topics are widely expected to be asked in the reading comprehension, Cloze Test or Error Detection in the forthcoming exams. So gear up your Exam preparation and learn new words daily.

A) China’s block: on not listing Azhar as global terrorist

Its decision on Masood Azhar is shocking — but India must keep up persuasive diplomacy

China’s decision to block the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist at the UN Security Council is both a setback to India’s post-Pulwama diplomatic strategy and a reality check on ties with China at present. After the February 14 attack, claimed by the JeM, the government had made the listing of Azhar a focus in its diplomatic efforts. It reached out to several governments, and shared a dossier on Azhar with each member of the Security Council, who are all members of the 1267 ISIL and al-Qaeda sanctions committee. A special effort was made with Beijing, which has blocked the Azhar listing in the past, including just after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. From 2016 to 2018, India’s proposals to list Azhar, with evidence of JeM involvement in the Pathankot airbase attack, were also foiled by China, which placed holds on the listing, and then vetoed it. The vetoes came despite the fact that the JeM is banned, and in the UNSC listing it is noted that Azhar, as its leader and founder, accepted funds from Osama bin Laden. China, as the one country that has refused to allow Azhar’s name on the list, is well aware of the evidence against him, but is not ready to withdraw its objections. It is clear that despite India-China relations improving after the Wuhan summit in April 2018, China is unwilling to align itself with India on its concerns on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

China’s stand is regrettable and condemnable, and it has been consistent on this issue. New Delhi must now consider whether it wishes to accept this as a fait accompli, or confront Beijing to try to persuade it to change its stand by means of incentives or coercion. This is a challenge, as any kind of concerted international pressure from the Western countries in this regard has in the past only served to be counterproductive. It is also unlikely that the suggestions being offered by some political groups, of cutting imports from China and other punitive actions, will yield much. The government may be more successful if it identifies the incentives it can offer China in the next few months to review its position. While some of those incentives would be bilateral, the Chinese spokesperson’s hint that dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad, and even possible “triangular” talks including Beijing, is indicative of China’s thinking. The government must also not lose sight of the bigger picture: that the UNSC cannot enforce its own listings, and other leaders who have been sanctioned in the past remain free and unencumbered. While listing Azhar at the UNSC is an unfinished task, the larger issue remains: to ensure that Pakistan takes substantive action against Azhar, the JeM and other terror groups that are threatening India. China, with its economic and strategic leverage with Pakistan, may be better-placed to help in this matter.

B) Horror in Pollachi: on sexual assault case

Cases of sexual assault and blackmail must be pursued swiftly and the guilty brought to book

The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to transfer the ‘Pollachi sexual abuse case’ to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gives the case rightful priority, and the agency must swiftly unravel the sexual assault and blackmail racket that has victimised a number of young women. The case had its origins in a complaint of sexual harassment, assault and robbery in a town in Coimbatore district. While the arrest of the accused was made in end-February, the case created a storm early this week when a leaked video found its way into the public sphere. Sourced from the phones of those who were arrested, it had a woman piteously pleading with her abusers to leave her alone. In fact, what has been uncovered so far might be the mere tip of the iceberg, as initial investigation has indicated that the scale of the operations of the four young men in Pollachi might be much larger than is obvious now. Among the accused was a member of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (who has since been removed from the party’s membership), and Opposition parties allege that the case involves those much higher in the State’s ruling party leadership.

The public outrage that ensued had the government first ordering that the case be transferred to the Crime Branch-CID, and then in just a day, to the CBI. Given the timing, with the Lok Sabha polls and critical Assembly by-elections around the corner, the political glow on the case is likely to be accentuated. But it is important that even as the investigation proceeds to nail the guilty and establish the scale of the abuse and blackmail crimes, the women’s identity and their privacy be strictly protected. The State Women’s Commission has promised that it will conduct an investigation into the matter, providing telephone numbers that victims can call to lodge complaints with complete confidentiality. The National Commission for Women has expressed serious concern over the safety of women in Tamil Nadu. In a letter to the State DGP, its Chairperson has asked that appropriate action be taken, and sought an action taken report. For its part, the government cannot wash its hands of the matter with the transfer of the case to the CBI. It must allow and assist in a free and fair probe into the incidents to bring justice to the victims, and to ensure their dignity and anonymity are maintained. In this election season, the ruling and Opposition parties must summon their political morality by articulating the gravity of the crime and refraining from trying to make political capital out of this heinous crime. Sexual assault and blackmail are dark crimes — the guilty must be brought to book. And the women and their families must be assured of justice and confidentiality.

VOCABULARY

1) diplomatic

Meaning : of or concerning diplomacy(adj).

Tamil Meaning : தூதரக

Synonyms : gracious

Antonyms : rude

Example : “diplomatic relations with Britain were broken”

2) claimed

Meaning : state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.

Synonyms : assert

Antonyms : abandon

Example : “the Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt”

3) dossier

Meaning : a collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject.

Synonyms : portfolio

Example : “we have a dossier on him”

4) vetoed

Meaning : exercise a veto against (a decision or proposal).

Synonyms : declined

Antonyms : approved

Example : “the president vetoed the bill”

5) despite

Meaning : without being affected by; in spite of.

Tamil Meaning : போதிலும்

Synonyms : although

Example : “he remains a great leader despite age and infirmity”

6) concerns

Meaning : relate to; be about.

Synonyms : burden

Antonyms : pastime

Example : “the story concerns a friend of mine”

7) emanating

Meaning : (of a feeling, quality, or sensation) issue or spread out from (a source).

Synonyms : emerge

Antonyms : conceal

Example : “warmth emanated from the fireplace”

8) regrettable

Meaning : (of conduct or an event) giving rise to regret; undesirable; unwelcome.

Tamil Meaning : வருந்ததக்க

Synonyms : calamitous

Antonyms : comforting

Example : “the loss of this number of jobs is regrettable”

9) condemnable

Meaning : express complete disapproval of; censure.

Tamil Meaning : கண்டிக்க

Synonyms : censure

Antonyms : approve

Example : “most leaders roundly condemned the attack”

10) consistent

Meaning : acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate.

Tamil Meaning : சீரான

Synonyms : logical

Antonyms : dishonest

Example : “the parents are being consistent and firm in their reactions”

11) confront

Meaning : come face to face with (someone) with hostile or argumentative intent.

Synonyms : defy

Antonyms : avoid

Example : “300 policemen confronted an equal number of union supporters”

12) persuade

Meaning : induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument.

Synonyms : assure

Antonyms : discourage

Example : “it wasn’t easy, but I persuaded him to do the right thing”

13) incentives

Meaning : a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.

Tamil Meaning : சலுகைகள்

Synonyms : impetus

Antonyms : hindrance

Example : “give farmers an incentive to improve their land”

14) concerted

Meaning : jointly arranged or carried out; coordinated.

Tamil Meaning : கருத்தொருமித்த

Synonyms : united

Antonyms : disarranged

Example : “a concerted attempt to preserve religious unity”

15) punitive

Meaning : inflicting or intended as punishment.

Tamil Meaning : தண்டனை

Synonyms : punishing

Antonyms : beneficial

Example : “he called for punitive measures against the Eastern bloc”

16) indicative

Meaning : serving as a sign or indication of something.

Tamil Meaning : அறிகுறியாக

Synonyms : suggestive

Antonyms : concealing

Example : “having recurrent dreams is not necessarily indicative of any psychological problem”

17) enforce

Meaning : compel observance of or compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation).

Tamil Meaning : செயல்படுத்த

Synonyms : apply

Antonyms : cease

Example : “the role of the police is to enforce the law”

18) ensure

Meaning : make certain that (something) will occur or be the case.

Tamil Meaning : உறுதி

Synonyms : assure

Antonyms : endanger

Example : “the client must ensure that accurate records are kept”

19) substantive

Meaning : having a firm basis in reality and so important, meaningful, or considerable.

Tamil Meaning : நிலையான

Synonyms : essential

Antonyms : inessential

Example : “there is no substantive evidence for the efficacy of these drugs”

20) leverage

Meaning : the exertion of force by means of a lever.

Tamil Meaning : அந்நிய

Synonyms : advantage

Antonyms : weakness

Example : “my spade hit something solid that wouldn’t respond to leverage”

21) unravel

Meaning : investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling).

Tamil Meaning : கட்டவிழும்

Synonyms : resolve

Antonyms : knot

Example : “they were attempting to unravel the cause of death”

22) indicated

Meaning : suggest as a desirable or necessary course of action.

Tamil Meaning : சுட்டிக்காட்டப்படுகிறது

Synonyms : designated

Antonyms : dismissed

Example : “treatment for shock may be indicated”

23) outrage

Meaning : an extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation.

Synonyms : shock

Antonyms : advantage

Example : “her voice trembled with outrage”

24) ensued

Meaning : happen or occur afterwards or as a result.

Synonyms : arise

Antonyms : cease

Example : “the difficulties which ensued from their commitment to Cuba”

25) refraining

Meaning : stop oneself from doing something.

Tamil Meaning : தவிர்ப்பதன்

Synonyms : abstain

Antonyms : continue

Example : “she refrained from comment”

THE HINDU EDITORIAL : MARCH 13, 2019

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