Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Bulldozer on the loose: On demolition of property of Muslim activists

Bulldozer on the loose: On demolition of property of Muslim activists

The demolition of property of Muslim activists (सक्रिय प्रतिभागी) is a challenge to the rule of law (कानून का शासन)

The demolition of houses and buildings linked to protesters in Uttar Pradesh is nothing but (कुछ नहीं लेकिन, केवल, सरल) retribution (प्रतिकार, बदला, प्रतिशोध) and collective punishment (सामूहिक सजा) targeted at Muslims. The destruction of the residence of Javed Mohammed, Welfare Party of India activist and businessman, in Prayagraj, shortly after he was identified by the police as an alleged (कथित, माना जाता है, दावा किया जाता है) conspirator (साजिशकर्ता, षड्यंत्रकारी) behind the violence during a protest, amply (पर्याप्त रूप से, संतोषजनक रूप से) demonstrates (indicate, show, display, reflect, disclose) this. The fig-leaf ((figuratively) something that is used to hide an embarrassing situation or problem; disguise, camouflage, cover-up, shield, facade, veneer) of legality attached to the claim (assertion, profession, affirmation, avowal, allegation) that the action by the Prayagraj Development Authority (Prayagraj Development Authority was constituted by the Government under Section-4 of the Uttar Pradesh Town Planning and Development Act on 20 August 1974 by the Government’s release dated 09-08-1974 to solve the complex housing problem arising out of the pressure of this growing population. Under Section-5 of the said Act, the government’s release dated 09.08.1974 has been declared as a development area up to 8 km outside the limits of the municipality) was to clear (evacuate, empty, remove) an illegal building has been blown away by the fact that (used to refer to a particular situation under consideration/discussion) the notice of demolition was addressed (send, direct, mail, communicate) to Mr. Mohammed, and not to his wife, who owns the property. The family’s charge (accusation, allegation, claim) that the notice was served (give out, present, provide, make available) only a day before the demolition and backdated (पिछली तारीख, मान्य करना) to May 10 cannot be brushed aside (disregard, ignore, dismiss, shrug off, pass over, put aside). It is well-known (familiar, common, customary, conventional, established) that the removal of encroachments (अतिक्रमण, घुसपैठ, अतिचार) or illegal constructions cannot take place without due process (उचित प्रक्रिया, सही प्रक्रिया), which includes giving the owner or occupier an opportunity to be heard and finding alternative accommodation (निवास स्थान, ठिकाना) under any existing rehabilitation (पुनर्वास) scheme. That officials claimed that the notice was served on Mr. Mohammed based on local enquiries shows that they were only following orders to demolish the building and had not bothered (परेशान करना, चिंता, परेशानी) to verify the record of ownership before action. Earlier, soon after violence was witnessed in Kanpur, the city’s development authority demolished a commercial building allegedly (कथित तौर पर, जाहिरा तौर पर) linked to one of the accused (litigator, opponent in law, opponent, disputant, claimant, complainant, appellant) in the case.

The latest demolitions are linked to the protests that took place in the wake of (as a result of some event, especially an unpleasant one; in the aftermath of, as a consequence of, on account of, because of, owing to) controversial (emotive, sensitive, delicate; contentious) remarks made by the now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on the Prophet (a person who is believed to be sent by God to Earth (to say the things that God wants to tell people)). While the Centre has sought to clarify to Islamic countries that it does not brook (tolerate, allow, accept (something like dissent/difference of opinion)) any disrespect (lack of respect, lack of civility, irreverence; contempt, scorn, disdain, dislike) to any religion, U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wants to send out (give out, announce, deliver) a message (a significant (political) point) that he will not brook any protests on the issue. It is now a well-established (well known, recognized, acknowledged) pattern that buildings belonging to (be associated with, be connected to, be linked to) those whose names are linked, with or without evidence, to riots or protests are chosen for demolition. For political purposes, it is presented as stringent (strict, severe, extreme, rigorous) action against anti-social elements (a group of people of a particular kind within a larger group) for rioting, and for legal purposes, it is portrayed (describe, depict, outline, characterize) as removal of illegal constructions. It is unfortunate, and a defining (decisive, determining, deciding) feature of these convoluted (complicated/confused, complex, intricate) times that some States take such pride in demolishing buildings that they want the bulldozer to symbolise (illustrate, demonstrate, represent) their purported (supposed, claimed, professed, reported, ostensible) resolve (determination, willpower, firmness, resolution, courage) in keeping minorities under check. The Supreme Court has ordered that status quo (the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs) be maintained in respect of the demolitions at Jahangirpuri, in Delhi. Six former Supreme Court and High Court judges and six senior advocates have appealed to (ask, request, petition, apply to) the Supreme Court to take suo motu (Latin term means “on its own motion”. It is used where a government agency acts on its own knowledge) cognisance (awareness, notice, knowledge, perception) of the demolitions. Whether the Court acts or not, there is little doubt that the demolitions amount to (be equal to, be equivalent to, be tantamount to, represent) an abuse (misuse, misapply, misemploy, mishandle) of power, a challenge (confrontation with, dispute with, stand against, test of, opposition, disagreement with) to the rule of law and are inherently (naturally, intrinsically, innately, essentially, basically, fundamentally) illegal due to (as a result of, owing to, because of) the absence (lack, non-existence, unavailability) of due process or proportionality (the quality of being in relation to severity, quantity, degree, period of something; proportion, correlation).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.activist (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सक्रिय प्रतिभागी
English Meaning - a person who supports a political change or cause; (or societal change/cause); campaigner, protestor, radical.

2.rule of law (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - कानून का शासन
English Meaning - it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.

3.nothing but (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - कुछ नहीं लेकिन, केवल, सरल
English Meaning - only, simply, but.

4.retribution (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिकार, बदला, प्रतिशोध
English Meaning - revenge, vengeance, retaliation, an eye for an eye, tit for tat.

5.collective punishment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सामूहिक सजा
English Meaning - a form of sanction/ban imposed on persons or a group of persons in response to a crime committed by one of them or a member of the group.

6.alleged (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कथित, माना जाता है, दावा किया जाता है
English Meaning - supposed, claimed, professed, purported, reported, ostensible.

7.conspirator (noun)

Hindi Meaning - साजिशकर्ता, षड्यंत्रकारी
English Meaning - conspirer, plotter/schemer, intriguer.

8.amply (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - पर्याप्त रूप से, संतोषजनक रूप से
English Meaning - sufficiently, satisfactorily, (more than) enough.

9.backdate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पिछली तारीख, मान्य करना
English Meaning - have an earlier date mentioned in (a document) than the actual date.

10.encroachment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अतिक्रमण, घुसपैठ, अतिचार
English Meaning - intrusion, infiltration, incursion, trespass, invasion.

11.due process (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - उचित प्रक्रिया, सही प्रक्रिया
English Meaning - (equally and fairly) correct process; fair treatment.

12.accommodation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निवास स्थान, ठिकाना
English Meaning - housing, place, place to stay, shelter.

13.rehabilitation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पुनर्वास
English Meaning - the action of bringing (someone or something) back to a normal.

14.bother (verb)

Hindi Meaning - परेशान करना, चिंता, परेशानी
English Meaning - worry, trouble, concern; feel concerned about, interested in.

15.allegedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित तौर पर, जाहिरा तौर पर
English Meaning - reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently.

16.on the loose (phrase)

English Meaning - unconfined, unrestrained, unrestricted; set free, let loose, untied.

17.demonstrate (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, show, display, reflect, disclose.

18.fig leaf (noun)

English Meaning - (figuratively) something that is used to hide an embarrassing situation or problem; disguise, camouflage, cover-up, shield, facade, veneer.

19.claim (noun)

English Meaning - assertion, profession, affirmation, avowal, allegation.

20.Prayagraj Development Authority (noun)

English Meaning - Prayagraj Development Authority was constituted by the Government under Section-4 of the Uttar Pradesh Town Planning and Development Act on 20 August 1974 by the Government’s release dated 09-08-1974 to solve the complex housing problem arising out of the pressure of this growing population. Under Section-5 of the said Act, the government’s release dated 09.08.1974 has been declared as a development area up to 8 km outside the limits of the municipality.

21.clear (verb)

English Meaning - evacuate, empty, remove.

22.blow away (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - defeat decisively/emphatically.

23.the fact that (phrase)

English Meaning - used to refer to a particular situation under consideration/discussion.

24.address (verb)

English Meaning - send, direct, mail, communicate.

25.charge (noun)

English Meaning - accusation, allegation, claim.

26.serve (verb)

English Meaning - give out, present, provide, make available.

27.brush aside (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - disregard, ignore, dismiss, shrug off, pass over, put aside.

28.well-known (adjective)

English Meaning - familiar, common, customary, conventional, established.

29.(the) accused (noun)

English Meaning - litigator, opponent in law, opponent, disputant, claimant, complainant, appellant.

30.in the wake of (phrase)

English Meaning - as a result of some event, especially an unpleasant one; in the aftermath of, as a consequence of, on account of, because of, owing to.

31.controversial (adjective)

English Meaning - emotive, sensitive, delicate; contentious.

32.suspended (adjective)

English Meaning - removed, eliminated, expelled, evicted.

33.the prophet (noun)

English Meaning - a person who is believed to be sent by God to Earth (to say the things that God wants to tell people).

34.sought past tense of seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

35.brook (verb)

English Meaning - tolerate, allow, accept (something like dissent/difference of opinion).

36.disrespect (noun)

English Meaning - lack of respect, lack of civility, irreverence; contempt, scorn, disdain, dislike.

37.send out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - give out, announce, deliver.

38.message (noun)

English Meaning - a significant (political) point.

39.well-established (adjective)

English Meaning - well known, recognized, acknowledged.

40.belong to (verb)

English Meaning - be associated with, be connected to, be linked to.

41.stringent (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, severe, extreme, rigorous.

42.element (noun)

English Meaning - a group of people of a particular kind within a larger group.

43.portray (verb)

English Meaning - describe, depict, outline, characterize.

44.defining (adjective)

English Meaning - decisive, determining, deciding.

45.convoluted (adjective)

English Meaning - complicated/confused, complex, intricate.

46.take pride in (phrase)

English Meaning - to be proud of, to take satisfaction in.

47.symbolise (verb)

English Meaning - illustrate, demonstrate, represent.

48.purported (adjective)

English Meaning - supposed, claimed, professed, reported, ostensible.

49.resolve (noun)

English Meaning - determination, willpower, firmness, resolution, courage.

50.keep in check (phrase)

English Meaning - to keep someone under control; stifle, restrain, hold back.

51.status quo (noun)

English Meaning - the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs.

52.appeal to (verb)

English Meaning - ask, request, petition, apply to.

53.suo motu (phrase)

English Meaning - Latin term means “on its own motion”. It is used where a government agency acts on its own knowledge.

54.cognisance (noun)

English Meaning - awareness, notice, knowledge, perception.

55.(take) cognisance of (phrase)

English Meaning - notice, attend to, take into account, give attention to.

56.amount to (verb)

English Meaning - be equal to, be equivalent to, be tantamount to, represent.

57.abuse (noun)

English Meaning - misuse, misapply, misemploy, mishandle.

58.challenge (noun)

English Meaning - confrontation with, dispute with, stand against, test of, opposition, disagreement with.

59.inherently (adverb)

English Meaning - naturally, intrinsically, innately, essentially, basically, fundamentally.

60.due to (phrase)

English Meaning - as a result of, owing to, because of.

61.absence (noun)

English Meaning - lack, non-existence, unavailability.

62.proportionality (noun)

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