Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Unedifying row: On panchayat polls in West Bengal and security

Unedifying row: On panchayat polls in West Bengal and security

Shadow (छाया) of poll violence justifies (न्यायसंगत, पुष्टि करना) court orders for using central forces in West Bengal

The controversy in West Bengal in the matter of deployment (तैनाती) of central paramilitary (अर्द्धसैनिक) forces ahead of the panchayat elections to be held on July 8 is quite unedifying (distasteful; unpleasant, undesirable (public event)). The State Election Commission (SEC) initially appeared reluctant (अनिच्छुक, उत्साहहीन) to heed (pay attention to, take into account, consider) calls by Opposition parties to bring in (to involve someone in a particular activity; to ask someone to do a particular job; include, count in, take in) central forces to boost (बढ़ाना, सुधारना) security arrangements. A perceived (discernable, noticeable, recognizable; supposed, regarded, considered) delay in identifying sensitive areas resulted in the Calcutta High Court ordering the poll body to ask for and deploy (employ forces/troops into effective action) central forces. In the ordinary course (plan (of action), course of action, method of working, approach, procedure, mode of conduct), the deployment of central forces during local body elections, conducted under the watch (observation, vigil, lookout, inspection, supervision, observance, scrutiny, surveillance) of the SEC, would be at the State government’s discretion (विवेक). However, it is an unfortunate reality that West Bengal frequently witnesses poll-related violence. Even in the current poll process, eight people have died, and there are reports of prospective (potential, aspiring, would-be, eventual, soon-to-be, designate) candidates being prevented from filing their nominations (नामांकन) for some panchayats. In these circumstances (परिस्थितियाँ), it would have been in the fitness of things (suitable, appropriate, proper, fitting) for the SEC to requisition (मांग करना, अनुरोध करना) central forces on its own ((all) by oneself, alone, independently), even if the State government had some grievance (शिकायत) over its discretion being overruled (खारिज या रद्द करना) by the High Court order. However, the SEC, which ought to (करना चाहिए) have had no misgivings (संदेह) about it, joined the government in approaching the Supreme Court of India against the order. The Court affirmed (state, declare, assert, pronounce clearly & publicly) the High Court’s directives (instruction, direction, ruling, decree, order, command, requirement, guideline, regulation), noting that the core issue was free and fair elections. Moreover (in addition, furthermore, besides), the whole State was going to vote on a single day for nearly 74,000 seats, and that given (considering, taking into account, bearing in mind) the high number of seats and polling booths, the directions were justified.

In yet another unfortunate turn (development/change in a situation; happening, occurrence, incident), the SEC responded to the apex court’s order by requisitioning central forces in 22 districts (one company ((military) unit, battalion, squad) each), in a move (action, measure, step) that showed pique (a feeling of irritation resulting from indignity/insult/injustice; annoyance, vexation, resentment, anger, hurt feelings) and resentment rather than (instead of) compliance (adherence, observance, conformity). The High Court has once again intervened, noting that the requisitioned (requested, demanded) number was thoroughly (completely, totally, really, unquestionably) inadequate (insufficient, sparse, scanty, meagre, paltry) and directed that more forces, not less than the size of the forces used during the 2013 panchayat polls be sought, when as many as (showing how large number is) 1.05 lakh police personnel (forces, crew, employees, workforce, staff) and 82,000 central personnel were deployed. The controversy flags (indicate, point out, identify; draw attention to something) the issue of political violence, which is quite endemic ((of something bad/unpleasant) regularly happening within an area or community; widespread, prevailing, usual, common, general, extensive, ubiquitous) to West Bengal. Each election sets off a round of violence and demands for central forces. The federal (relating to a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government) principle that law and order (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) is under the State’s domain is often strained (overtax, overburden, overtask, push to the limit, exert excessively) and tested at such times. The High Court had ordered a CBI investigation into incidents of serious violence after the last Assembly election in 2021. A truly independent election watchdog (a person or organization that monitors/inspects/supervises others’ activities/conducts; inspector/supervisor, observer, ombudsman) and a sense of responsibility among all political parties are necessary to preserve (protect, maintain, take care of, save, look after) the purity (morality, goodness, righteousness) of the election process.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.shadow (noun)

Hindi Meaning - छाया
English Meaning - (slightest) trace, hint, suspicion.

2.justify (verb)

Hindi Meaning - न्यायसंगत, पुष्टि करना
English Meaning - confirm, defend, uphold, validate, vindicate, warrant.

3.deployment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तैनाती
English Meaning - the act of employing forces/troops into effective action.

4.paramilitary (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अर्द्धसैनिक
English Meaning - (of semi-militarized force) organized like a military force.

5.reluctant (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अनिच्छुक, उत्साहहीन
English Meaning - unwilling, unenthusiastic, involuntary, disinclined, resisting, opposed, hesitant.

6.boost (verb)

Hindi Meaning - बढ़ाना, सुधारना
English Meaning - improve, increase, enhance, augment, support, strengthen.

7.result in (verb)

Hindi Meaning - परिणाम होना
English Meaning - cause, lead to, bring on, bring about, give rise to.

8.discretion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विवेक
English Meaning - liking, wish, desire, preference, disposition. choice.

9.nomination (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नामांकन
English Meaning - an official suggestion of someone as a candidate in an election.

10.circumstances (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिस्थितियाँ
English Meaning - context, situation, background, conditions, state of affairs.

11.requisition (verb)

Hindi Meaning - मांग करना, अनुरोध करना
English Meaning - request, apply for, call for, demand.

12.grievance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शिकायत
English Meaning - complaint, protestation, protest, criticism, problem, objection.

13.overrule (verb)

Hindi Meaning - खारिज या रद्द करना
English Meaning - cancel, reverse, repeal, revoke, override quash.

14.ought to (modal verb)

Hindi Meaning - करना चाहिए
English Meaning - must, should.

15.misgiving (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संदेह
English Meaning - doubt, qualm, distrust, mistrust, suspicion, lack of faith/confidence.

16.unedifying (adjective)

English Meaning - distasteful; unpleasant, undesirable (public event).

17.row (noun)

English Meaning - quarrel, fight, squabble, clash, dispute.

18.heed (verb)

English Meaning - pay attention to, take into account, consider.

19.call (noun)

English Meaning - request, appeal, plea, demand.

20.bring in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to involve someone in a particular activity; to ask someone to do a particular job; include, count in, take in.

21.perceived (adjective)

English Meaning - discernable, noticeable, recognizable; supposed, regarded, considered.

22.deploy (verb)

English Meaning - employ forces/troops into effective action.

23.course (noun)

English Meaning - plan (of action), course of action, method of working, approach, procedure, mode of conduct.

24.watch (noun)

English Meaning - observation, vigil, lookout, inspection, supervision, observance, scrutiny, surveillance.

25.prospective (adjective)

English Meaning - potential, aspiring, would-be, eventual, soon-to-be, designate.

26.in the fitness of things (phrase)

English Meaning - suitable, appropriate, proper, fitting.

27.on its own (phrase)

English Meaning - (all) by oneself, alone, independently.

28.affirm (verb)

English Meaning - state, declare, assert, pronounce clearly & publicly.

29.directive (noun)

English Meaning - instruction, direction, ruling, decree, order, command, requirement, guideline, regulation.

30.moreover (adverb)

English Meaning - in addition, furthermore, besides.

31.given (preposition)

English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

32.turn (noun)

English Meaning - development/change in a situation; happening, occurrence, incident.

33.company (noun)

English Meaning - (military) unit, battalion, squad.

34.move (noun)

English Meaning - action, measure, step.

35.pique (noun)

English Meaning - a feeling of irritation resulting from indignity/insult/injustice; annoyance, vexation, resentment, anger, hurt feelings.

36.rather than (phrase)

English Meaning - instead of.

37.compliance (noun)

English Meaning - adherence, observance, conformity.

38.requisitioned (adjective)

English Meaning - requested, demanded.

39.thoroughly (adverb)

English Meaning - completely, totally, really, unquestionably.

40.inadequate (adjective)

English Meaning - insufficient, sparse, scanty, meagre, paltry.

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

English Meaning - ask for, request, solicit, appeal for.

42.as many as (phrase)

English Meaning - showing how large number is.

43.personnel (noun)

English Meaning - forces, crew, employees, workforce, staff.

44.flag (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, point out, identify; draw attention to something.

45.endemic (adjective)

English Meaning - (of something bad/unpleasant) regularly happening within an area or community; widespread, prevailing, usual, common, general, extensive, ubiquitous.

46.set off (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - cause, lead to, give rise to, bring about; begin, prompt, trigger off, provoke.

47.federal (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

48.law and order (noun)

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.

49.domain (noun)

English Meaning - area, sphere, realm, field (of activity).

50.strain (verb)

English Meaning - overtax, overburden, overtask, push to the limit, exert excessively.

51.watchdog (noun)

English Meaning - a person or organization that monitors/inspects/supervises others’ activities/conducts; inspector/supervisor, observer, ombudsman.

52.preserve (verb)

English Meaning - protect, maintain, take care of, save, look after.

53.purity (noun)

English Meaning - morality, goodness, righteousness.