Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Suspect moves: On changes to reservation policy in Karnataka

Suspect moves: On changes to reservation policy in Karnataka

Tinkering with reservation (आरक्षण) quota in run-up to (a period of time just before an important event) elections appears political

Statecraft (statesmanship, negotiations/discussions; the skilful management of a country’s public affairs) involves management of competing (प्रतिस्पर्धा करना, महत्वाकांक्षी) demands for accommodation (आवास)  and inclusion, without unduly (needlessly, unnecessarily, inappropriately, unreasonably, unjustifiably) affecting the interests (common concerns (in politics/business)) of any section of society. However, some rulers, such as those in Karnataka, want to be seen as discriminating (भेदभाव) against a minority group in the hope of (उम्मीद में) garnering (संचित करना, इकट्ठा करो) the support of the majority. The Karnataka government’s decision to scrap (remove, abolish, quash, eliminate, discontinue, cancel, abandon, drop, stop, do away with, get rid of) the 4% quota for Muslims within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and earmark (keep, reserve, set aside, allocate to, allot to, set apart, put aside, designate, give over to) an additional 2% each to the dominant Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities is a divisive (विभाजक, बांटनेवाला) gamble in the expectation of electoral dividends (लाभांश). The BJP regime (प्रशासन) has also created four sub-categories to introduce internal reservation for different Dalit communities under the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The scrapping (removal, withdrawal, cancellation, elimination, dismissal) of reservation for Muslims, whose poorer members will now have to compete with the general category for the 10% ‘Economically Weaker Sections (आर्थिक रूप से कमजोर वर्ग)’ quota, is reminiscent (similar to, comparable with, tending to remind; evocative of, suggestive of) of the abrogation (abolition, repeal, cancellation (of a law/agreement)) of the 5% quota for Muslims in Maharashtra in 2015. While reservation on the basis of religion alone is untenable (अस्थिर, अनुचित), it appears that there has been no recommendation from the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission (आयोग) for the withdrawal of reservation benefits for Muslims. The BJP has sought to portray (चित्रण, वर्णन) the introduction of reservation for Muslims in 1995 as an instance of minority appeasement (satisfaction, fulfilment, gratification, relief, concession, accommodation; conciliation, pacification, reconciliation).

It is indeed (in fact, actually, undeniably) true that the Constitution (The Constitution is the rule book for a country; body of law, system of laws/rules, fundamental principals) does not allow reservation on the basis of religion alone, and that there have been judicial verdicts striking (abolish, annul, nullify (a law or regulation)) down quotas for Muslims for not being backed (endorse, sanction, approve, uphold, favour, support, advocate, champion) by a proper study on the extent of backwardness (the condition/state of not developed) in the community. However, it is possible to extend reservation benefits to the backward sections among religious minorities identified on the basis of relevant criteria. Some States have been implementing reservation in educational institutions as well as public employment for Muslims by including them in the Backward Classes (BC) list. It is futile (pointless, useless, valueless) to argue that large sections of Muslims have reached a level of social and educational advancement (development, growth, evolution, progress, improvement) that will justify (explain, substantiate, legitimize, validate, uphold, affirm, confirm, verify, prove) their exclusion from the BC category, or that they are not under-represented (provided with inadequate representation) in the services (employment). While Muslim leaders and organisations have opposed the scrapping of the reservation, the categorisation (the process of putting people into categories; classification, arrangement, sorting) of the SC communities is also controversial. Sections of Dalits are up in arms (If someone is up in arms about something, he/she is very angry about it and is protesting strongly against it; very angry, infuriated, annoyed, vexed, irritated, aggrieved, irked, piqued, displeased) against the reordering of the 17% SC quota among different groups. Major decisions, such as changing the reservation policy, in the run-up to elections are not merely (only, just) suspect, but may end up (finish up, turn up, come/appear, find oneself (to a particular course of action in the end)) stoking (incite, add fuel to, intensify, amplify; encourage (a tendency)) unwanted fires (hostility, enmity, ill will, animosity; criticism, censure, condemnation, denunciation).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.suspect (verb)

Hindi Meaning - संदिग्ध व्यक्ति
English Meaning - doubt, be wary of, distrust, mistrust.

2.move (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कदम, क्रिया
English Meaning - action, act, step, measure.

3.reservation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आरक्षण
English Meaning - a system of affirmative action in India that provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in education, employment, and politics.

4.competing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिस्पर्धा करना, महत्वाकांक्षी
English Meaning - competitive, ambitious, aggressive, opportunistic.

5.accommodation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आवास
English Meaning - adjustment, adaptation, attunement.

6.discriminate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - भेदभाव
English Meaning - be biased, show prejudice, treat differently, treat unfairly, disfavour.

7.in the hope of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - उम्मीद में
English Meaning - with the expectation of; with the desire for.

8.garner (verb)

Hindi Meaning - संचित करना, इकट्ठा करो
English Meaning - gather, collect, accumulate.

9.divisive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विभाजक, बांटनेवाला
English Meaning - alienating/isolating, disharmonious, discordant.

10.dividend (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लाभांश
English Meaning - benefit, advantage, reward, gain; share, portion, percentage.

11.regime (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशासन
English Meaning - government.

12.Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आर्थिक रूप से कमजोर वर्ग
English Meaning - Economically Weaker Section (EWS) or Economically Backward Classes (EBC) in India is a subcategory of people belonging to the General Category having an annual family income less than ₹8 lakh and who do not belong to any category such as SC/ST/OBC across India, nor to MBC in Tamil Nadu.

13.untenable (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अस्थिर, अनुचित
English Meaning - undefendable, unjustified, unacceptable.

14.commission (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आयोग
English Meaning - committee, council, board, panel.

15.portray (verb)

Hindi Meaning - चित्रण, वर्णन
English Meaning - describe, depict, outline, characterize.

16.tinker (with) (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - try to improve/repair something, particularly by making small changes in a casual way; try to mend, adjust slightly, experiment with; work amateurishly/unskillfully on, fiddle with, play with.

17.run-up to (noun)

English Meaning - a period of time just before an important event.

18.statecraft (noun)

English Meaning - statesmanship, negotiations/discussions; the skilful management of a country’s public affairs.

19.unduly (adverb)

English Meaning - needlessly, unnecessarily, inappropriately, unreasonably, unjustifiably.

20.interest (noun)

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

21.scrap (verb)

English Meaning - remove, abolish, quash, eliminate, discontinue, cancel, abandon, drop, stop, do away with, get rid of.

22.earmark (verb)

English Meaning - keep, reserve, set aside, allocate to, allot to, set apart, put aside, designate, give over to.

23.scrapping (noun)

English Meaning - removal, withdrawal, cancellation, elimination, dismissal.

24.reminiscent (adjective)

English Meaning - similar to, comparable with, tending to remind; evocative of, suggestive of.

25.abrogation (noun)

English Meaning - abolition, repeal, cancellation (of a law/agreement).

26.sought past and past participle of seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

27.appeasement (noun)

English Meaning - satisfaction, fulfilment, gratification, relief, concession, accommodation; conciliation, pacification, reconciliation.

28.indeed (adverb)

English Meaning - in fact, actually, undeniably.

29.The Constitution (noun)

English Meaning - The Constitution is the rule book for a country; body of law, system of laws/rules, fundamental principals.

30.strike down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - abolish, annul, nullify (a law or regulation).

31.back (verb)

English Meaning - endorse, sanction, approve, uphold, favour, support, advocate, champion.

32.backwardness (noun)

English Meaning - the condition/state of not developed.

33.criterion (noun)

English Meaning - basis, standard, norm. (criteria is the plural form of criterion).

34.futile (adjective)

English Meaning - pointless, useless, valueless.

35.advancement (noun)

English Meaning - development, growth, evolution, progress, improvement.

36.justify (verb)

English Meaning - explain, substantiate, legitimize, validate, uphold, affirm, confirm, verify, prove.

37.under-represented (adjective)

English Meaning - provided with inadequate representation.

38.service (noun)

English Meaning - employment.

39.categorisation (noun)

English Meaning - the process of putting people into categories; classification, arrangement, sorting.

40.up in arms (phrase)

English Meaning - If someone is up in arms about something, he/she is very angry about it and is protesting strongly against it; very angry, infuriated, annoyed, vexed, irritated, aggrieved, irked, piqued, displeased.

41.merely (adverb)

English Meaning - only, just.

42.end up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - finish up, turn up, come/appear, find oneself (to a particular course of action in the end).

43.stoke (verb)

English Meaning - incite, add fuel to, intensify, amplify; encourage (a tendency).

44.fire (noun)

English Meaning - hostility, enmity, ill will, animosity; criticism, censure, condemnation, denunciation.