Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Overkill: On the Internet shutdown in Manipur

Overkill: On the Internet shutdown in Manipur

The Manipur government’s decision to extend the Internet shutdowns lacks merit (योग्यता, महत्व)

The Manipur High Court, on Tuesday, granted limited Internet access in designated (selected, chosen; specific, particular) places in the State after a petition seeking (ask for, request, appeal for) the restoration (बहाली) of net access. Shutdowns (closure of a (complete) system; close down, closure, suspension, stoppage) began following the violent conflagration (flames, blaze, fire, firestorm, inferno) on May 3 and there were extensions of restrictions since then, the last one being an extension order on Wednesday, till June 25. The request made is legitimate (वैध, कानूनी) as shutdowns have a crippling (weakening, impairing, paralyzing) effect on many an economic activity and livelihoods (आजीविका). Citizens have been unable to access vital services such as e-commerce-related activities, except for those who can get exemptions from the shutdowns with government permission. Violent incidents have occurred in the State since May 3 and relations between Meiteis (an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur in northeastern India. Meitei people also called Manipuri, dominant population of Manipur in northeastern India) and Kukis remain tense (तनावग्रस्त). But the orders seeking to extend the shutdown cite threats to “law and order (कानून एवं व्यवस्था)” and the role of “anti-social elements” — a euphemism (an innocuous (inoffensive/harmless) or pleasant word/phrase/expression that is used as an alternative to something offensive & unpleasant; polite term, indirect term, mild alternative, understatement) for extremists (चरमपन्थी, कट्टरपंथी) indulging in (become involved in something (bad/unpleasant)) violent acts or the posting of violence-promoting material — rather than (इसके बजाय, से ज्यादा) explicitly (स्पष्ट रूप से) seeking to retain these bans because of a public emergency or in the interests (common concerns (in politics/business)) of public safety, as required by Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act, 1885 (under Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act, 1885, the central/state government has the power to block the transmission of messages during a public emergency or for public safety. Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 provides for lawful interception in the interests of the sovereignty, and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with Foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence) and Telegraph Rules. The Manipur government also told the High Court that the shutdowns were needed to block websites where inflammatory (भड़काऊ, उत्तेजक) material could be published, but such a sledgehammer (powerful; forceful; ruthless, insensitive (force/tool)) approach is clearly problematic.

The Supreme Court, in Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India (2020), had held that an indefinite suspension of Internet services was in contravention (उल्लंघन) to the law as freedom of speech (अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता) and the freedom to carry out commercial work using the Internet was a fundamental right. It also held that such suspensions should adhere to (abide by, stick to, hold to, comply with, act in accordance with, conform to, follow, obey) the “principle of proportionality (समानता, आनुपात) and must not extend beyond necessary duration”. Continuing a dragnet (a systematic search of something (particularly criminal activities); a network of measures for suspension (as of criminals)) suspension in Manipur in this fashion (manner, method, way) suggests that the government is merely (केवल, बिल्कुल) using the shutdown as a substitute for enforcing law and order — another ploy (move, tactic, (cunning) plan) that the Court had come down heavily upon in this judgment. The situation in Manipur can be tackled effectively by a regime (system) that seeks to restore the confidence of all stakeholders (a person with an interest in something), engages with civil society (it is the space outside the family, public sector (government & its branches) and private sector (businesses and corporations). It now signifies a wide range of organised and organic groups including non governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, social movements, grassroots organisations, online networks and communities, and faith groups) actors (participant in an activity) in restoring inter-community dialogue (talks, discussion, discourse, debate, negotiation, deliberation), isolates the extremists and pursues (engage in, take part in, be occupied in, participate in (an activity)) a step-by-step (gradual, incremental, phased) approach towards restoring peace and normalcy (a normal condition; normality, regularity). But with a beleaguered (hard-pressed, troubled, suffering; under pressure, under stress) Chief Minister at the helm (in charge, in command/control/authority; in the driving seat) — a leader who has lost the confidence of many of his colleagues — and the intransigence (unreasonable refusal or unwillingness to change/compromise on something (view, attitude, behaviour, position); inflexibility, obstinacy, rigidity, single-mindedness, stubbornness) of many community representatives and their inability to rise above (to tackle a difficult or unpleasant situation successfully (or) to not allow a bad situation affects you) their ethnic (relating to a population subgroup (cultural, national, traditional/folk) with a common national or cultural tradition) identities to pursue peace, sporadic (occasional, infrequent, irregular, unpredictable) violence continues even as those displaced (relating to an act of forcing someone to leave his/her home, usually due to war, persecution, or natural disaster) are unable to return home. This, however, does not lend to (be suitable for, be appropriate for, be applicable for) the continuation of the Internet shutdown that has been in place (in order, operating, established) for over a month-and-a-half, and which must end.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.merit (noun)

Hindi Meaning - योग्यता, महत्व
English Meaning - good point, strong point.

2.restoration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बहाली
English Meaning - bringing back, reinstitution, reinstallation, re-establishment, revival.

3.legitimate (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - वैध, कानूनी
English Meaning - legal, lawful; valid, acceptable, reasonable.

4.livelihood (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आजीविका
English Meaning - means of making a living with the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing); means of support, subsistence, source of income.

5.tense (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - तनावग्रस्त
English Meaning - uneasy, nervous, anxious, worrying, disturbing, distressing.

6.law and order (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कानून एवं व्यवस्था
English Meaning - a condition in which the existing rules, regulations, norms and related legal codes are recognized and observed for the sustenance of peace, orderliness and security of lives and property in society.

7.extremist (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चरमपन्थी, कट्टरपंथी
English Meaning - radical, fanatic, sectarian/partisan, militant.

8.rather than (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - इसके बजाय, से ज्यादा
English Meaning - instead of.

9.explicitly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - स्पष्ट रूप से
English Meaning - absolutely, directly, clearly, categorically, conclusively, unconditionally, unequivocally, unqualifiedly, unambiguously, outright.

10.inflammatory (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - भड़काऊ, उत्तेजक
English Meaning - provocative, agitational, incendiary, provoking, goading, controversial, annoying, irritating.

11.hold (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पकड़ना
English Meaning - (of a court) rule, decide.

12.contravention (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उल्लंघन
English Meaning - breach, violation, infringement, breaking, non-observance, dereliction.

13.freedom of speech (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता
English Meaning - the right to express opinions without government interference.

14.proportionality (noun)

Hindi Meaning - समानता, आनुपात
English Meaning - the quality of being in relation to severity, quantity, degree, period of something; proportion, correlation.

15.merely (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - केवल, बिल्कुल
English Meaning - only, just.

16.overkill (noun)

English Meaning - excessive action; more than enough, too many, too much.

17.shutdown (noun)

English Meaning - closure of a (complete) system; close down, closure, suspension, stoppage.

18.lack (verb)

English Meaning - be without, be in need of, be lacking, require/need, be deprived of.

19.designated (adjective)

English Meaning - selected, chosen; specific, particular.

20.seek (verb)

English Meaning - ask for, request, appeal for.

21.conflagration (noun)

English Meaning - flames, blaze, fire, firestorm, inferno.

22.crippling (adjective)

English Meaning - weakening, impairing, paralyzing.

23.Meitei people (noun)

English Meaning - an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur in northeastern India. Meitei people also called Manipuri, dominant population of Manipur in northeastern India.

24.Kuki-Zomi community (noun)

English Meaning -The Kuki people are an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur and other states in northeastern India. The “Mizo” (poetic version of “Zomi”), people are a ethnic group native to the Indian state of Mizoram and neighbouring regions of Northeast India.

25.euphemism (noun)

English Meaning - an innocuous (inoffensive/harmless) or pleasant word/phrase/expression that is used as an alternative to something offensive & unpleasant; polite term, indirect term, mild alternative, understatement.

26.indulge in (verb)

English Meaning - become involved in something (bad/unpleasant).

27.interest (noun)

English Meaning - common concerns (in politics/business).

28.Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act, 1885 (noun)

English Meaning - under Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act, 1885, the central/state government has the power to block the transmission of messages during a public emergency or for public safety. Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 provides for lawful interception in the interests of the sovereignty, and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with Foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence.

29.The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (noun)

English Meaning - An Act to amend the law relating to Telegraphs in India. Part I deals with definitions of key words used in the Telegraph Act. Part II deals with privileges and powers of the government. Part III deals with power to place telegraph lines and posts. Part IV deals with penalties and Part V deals with Supplementary Provisions.

30.sledgehammer (noun)

English Meaning - powerful; forceful; ruthless, insensitive (force/tool).

31.Part III Rights/Fundamental Rights (noun)

English Meaning - The Fundamental Rights, embodied in Part III of the Constitution, guarantee civil rights to all Indians and prevent the State from encroaching an individual’s liberty while simultaneously placing upon it an obligation to protect the citizens’ rights from encroachment by society. Seven fundamental rights were originally provided by the Constitution - the right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, right to property and right to constitutional remedies. However, the right to property was removed from Part III of the Constitution by the 44th Amendment in 1978.

32.adhere to (verb)

English Meaning - abide by, stick to, hold to, comply with, act in accordance with, conform to, follow, obey.

33.dragnet (noun)

English Meaning - a systematic search of something (particularly criminal activities); a network of measures for suspension (as of criminals).

34.fashion (noun)

English Meaning - manner, method, way.

35.ploy (noun)

English Meaning - move, tactic, (cunning) plan.

36.come down on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - criticize, censure, reprimand, rebuke, reproach, scold, admonish, reprove, castigate, lambast (harshly).

37.regime (noun)

English Meaning - system.

38.stakeholder (noun)

English Meaning - a person with an interest in something.

39.civil society (noun)

English Meaning - it is the space outside the family, public sector (government & its branches) and private sector (businesses and corporations). It now signifies a wide range of organised and organic groups including non governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, social movements, grassroots organisations, online networks and communities, and faith groups.

40.actor (noun)

English Meaning - participant in an activity.

41.inter- (prefix)

English Meaning - between.

42.dialogue (noun)

English Meaning - talks, discussion, discourse, debate, negotiation, deliberation.

43.pursue (verb)

English Meaning - engage in, take part in, be occupied in, participate in (an activity).

44.step-by-step (adjective)

English Meaning - gradual, incremental, phased.

45.normalcy (noun)

English Meaning - a normal condition; normality, regularity.

46.beleaguered (adjective)

English Meaning - hard-pressed, troubled, suffering; under pressure, under stress.

47.at the helm (phrase)

English Meaning - in charge, in command/control/authority; in the driving seat.

48.helm (noun)

English Meaning - in charge, in command, in authority, position.

49.intransigence (noun)

English Meaning - unreasonable refusal or unwillingness to change/compromise on something (view, attitude, behaviour, position); inflexibility, obstinacy, rigidity, single-mindedness, stubbornness.

50.rise above (phrase)

English Meaning - to tackle a difficult or unpleasant situation successfully (or) to not allow a bad situation affects you.

51.ethnic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a population subgroup (cultural, national, traditional/folk) with a common national or cultural tradition.

52.identity (noun)

English Meaning - identification, recognition; individuality, originality.

53.identity (noun)

English Meaning - a social category, a set of persons marked by a label and distinguished by rules deciding membership and (alleged) characteristic features or attributes; individuality, character, originality.

54.sporadic (adjective)

English Meaning - occasional, infrequent, irregular, unpredictable.

55.displaced (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to an act of forcing someone to leave his/her home, usually due to war, persecution, or natural disaster.

56.lend to (verb)

English Meaning - be suitable for, be appropriate for, be applicable for.

57.in place (phrase)

English Meaning - in order, operating, established.