Hindi English Translation || Editorial || A lot at stake: On India and the impact of the indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice

A lot at stake: On India and the impact of the indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice

India’s reputation as a principled power is at stake (दांव) after the indictment

The impact of the 15-page indictment (अभियोग) filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against an Indian national, believed to be directed by an Indian government official for attempting an assassination (हत्या) plot against U.S.-based Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is likely to be felt in more than just the U.S. and India. The indictment is based on details of communications between the accused, an illicit drugs and arms dealer, Nikhil Gupta, with a serving senior Indian government intelligence officer, who is identified but unnamed, as well as with two men in the U.S., who were allegedly (कथित) engaged to kill Mr. Pannun. The twist (To turn or bend something out of its normal shape; a distortion or spiral movement) in the tale, unreported on so far in the U.S., or Canada, is that the two U.S.-based men were working for U.S. law enforcement, making it clear that American agents have been following the investigation since at least May. There have been meetings between the U.S. President Joseph Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi — other senior officials have met too — since then. The allegations raise troubling questions about how much was shared between the two countries, and whether the Modi government, which had been outraged (नाराज़गी, उल्लंघन) by similar allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, has been less than honest about what it knows. If the government had knowingly authorised the targeting of Sikh separatists who are on India’s UAPA terrorist designation list, then that implies (तात्पर्य) a dramatic change in Indian policy, which it should be more upfront about. If top officials had no inkling about the “plots”, and as the Ministry of External Affairs has stated this is not “government policy”, it is also a matter of grave incompetence (अक्षमता) and ‘rogue (दुष्ट)’ officers. If, however, the U.S.’s and Canada’s allegations are unfounded, and Indian officials are not linked to the plots, then the government needs to furnish evidence. In any case, the management of public messaging in the matter, especially India’s reaction to Canada versus the U.S., appears inconsistent (असंगत).

Whatever the factors behind the government’s responses thus far, it is significant that it has now instituted a high-level inquiry committee to look into the U.S.’s allegations. Much hinges on its outcome. To begin with, India’s U.S. ties could be impacted by what transpires, as White House expects India’s full cooperation. India too, must ask the U.S., which is rightly placing such emphasis on the plot, why it is not keen on extraditing to India a man facing terror charges. Second, the U.S. and Canadian allegations will directly impact India’s ties with all “Five Eyes” intelligence partner countries, which must not be overshadowed by this one case. Finally, it is India’s reputation as a consistent and credible power — one which has earned respect worldwide for its sagacity (बुद्धिमानी, दूरदर्शिता) and principled approach on such issues in the past — that hangs in the balance, and New Delhi must judge its next steps in the case extremely wisely.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Stake (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - दांव
English Meaning - A pointed stick or post used for support or marking boundaries; a share or interest in a business or venture.

2.Indictment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियोग
English Meaning - A formal accusation or charge of a serious crime.

3.Assassination (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - हत्या
English Meaning - The act of deliberately killing a prominent or important person, especially for political reasons.

4.Alleged (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कथित
English Meaning - Asserted or stated to be true without providing proof; accused but not proven guilty.

5.Outrage (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - नाराज़गी, उल्लंघन
English Meaning - An act of extreme violence, cruelty, or offensiveness; an intense and violent reaction to something offensive.

6.Imply (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - तात्पर्य
English Meaning - To suggest or express indirectly; to indicate without explicitly stating.

7.Rogue (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दुष्ट
English Meaning - A dishonest or unprincipled person; a scoundrel.

8.Incompetence (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - अक्षमता
English Meaning - Lack of ability, skill, or effectiveness in performing tasks; incompetence.

9.Inconsistent (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - असंगत
English Meaning - Not staying the same or not behaving in a predictable way; lacking consistency.

10.Sagacity (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - बुद्धिमानी, दूरदर्शिता
English Meaning - Acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgment; wisdom.

11.Twist (Verb)

English Meaning - To turn or bend something out of its normal shape; a distortion or spiral movement.