Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Danger of thought: On the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill

​Danger of thought: On the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill

The public security Bill endangers (खतरे में डालना) India as an open society (खुला समाज, उदारवादी समाज)

The Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill, 2024 follows the disturbing (परेशान करने वाला) pattern of executive overreach in the name of (के नाम पर) security. Existing laws are often misused against political opponents (विरोधी, प्रतिद्वंद्वी) and critics (आलोचक) of the ruling party, including commentators (टिप्पणीकार, विश्लेषक). Charges (आरोप, अभियोग) are often vague (अस्पष्ट, अनिश्चित) and sweeping (extensive, expansive, boundless, unconditional, unrestricted, exhaustive, comprehensive, all-inclusive, all-embracing, far-reaching), and the process itself becomes the punishment in many of these cases. Given (ध्यान में रखते हुए) this pattern, the move (कदम, कार्रवाई) by Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government led by the BJP to create an entire law to criminalise (अपराध घोषित करना) a certain kind of thought portends (indicate, herald, foretell, augur, signal, signify, bode (ill), point to (particularly a bad outcome)) danger to freedom and democracy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the new law would only target those who try to undermine (कमजोर करना) the constitutional order (संवैधानिक व्यवस्था), but the possibility (chance, likelihood, probability) — indeed (actually, really, in truth, truly, surely, certainly, as expected) the probability — of its misuse (दुरुपयोग) is apparent (evident, clear, visible, noticeable, recognizable, flagrant, glaring, obvious, pronounced). The State says that it is seeking (try, aim, attempt) to prevent Maoists (a follower of Maoism (Maoism is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. It is a doctrine to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances). The largest and the most violent Maoist formation in India is the Communist Party of India (Maoist)) from brainwashing (affect, sway, control, convince, persuade, talk around, prevail on, intimidate, brainwash) youth, professionals, and civil servants through front organisations (any entity set up as the face/front of another organization or group). As in the proposed law, which is now awaiting (wait for) the assent (approval, agreement, acceptance, consent, concurrence) of the Governor before coming into force, the State government can declare any suspect (suspicious, dubious, doubtful, under suspicion) “organisation” as an “unlawful organisation”. Offences (crime, illegal act, breach of the law, violation of the law, wrongdoing, act of misconduct, misdeed) under the proposed law include membership of such organisations, fundraising (seek financial support for a cause; to collect money for a purpose) on their behalf, managing or assisting them, and committing unlawful activities.

The Bill’s focus is on people and organisations that act as a front for Maoists, and what is unlawful is so broadly (in general, loosely, roughly, approximately) defined that anyone can be its target. Among other things (used to indicate that there are several more things like the one mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all), according to the Bill, ‘unlawful’ is “any action taken by an individual or organization whether by committing an act or by words either spoken or written or by sign or by visible representation (portrayal, depiction, characterization, description) or otherwise, which constitute (amount to, account for, compose, comprise, make up) a danger or menace (threat/danger, risk/peril, intimidation) to public order (it is essentially the absence of disorder - the quiet and orderly behaviour of people in public space. It involves people behaving sensibly and rationally, and respecting others), peace and tranquility (peacefulness, restfulness, calmness, quietness)”. Offences are cognisable and the accused (the suspected person) can be arrested without a warrant (authorization, permission, consent, sanction). Punishment includes jail terms (prison term, sentence, jail sentence, punishment) of two years to seven years, along with fines ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh. The State argues that Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have enacted Public Security Acts and banned 48 Naxal frontal organisations. The Opposition parties offered feeble (weak, powerless, helpless; insubstantial, unsuccessful, ineffective) resistance (opposition, confrontation, defiance, fight; refusal to accept, reluctance to accept) to the Bill and raised some broad concerns regarding (concerning, with regard to, in respect of, with reference to, relating to) its misuse but it was passed in the Assembly (Assembly/Vidhan Sabha; a legislative body in the states and union territories of India) through a voice vote (a voice vote involves the speaker putting a question to the house and then asking the house to put forward its opinion in the forms of ayes (yes) or noes. Based on a rough measure of which side was louder, the speaker decides if the motion was passed or fell through). As an afterthought (an idea/thought added later), the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) protested on the floor (in the legislative house (legislature, parliament, congress, council, assembly)) when it was taken up in the Legislative Council (law-making body or governing body; legislature, parliament, congress, council, assembly). The Bill had gone through a long deliberative (carefully thought through, carefully discussed; considered, calculated, reasoned, careful, thoughtful, planned, advised, studied) process, but as it turns out (as it is, as it stands, as things stand, as it happens), all parties appeared to be in agreement (agreeing, approving or accepting) , barring (except for, apart from, other than, omitting, excluding, besides, discounting, save for) the lone (lonely, solitary, unaccompanied) CPI (M) MLA who protested against it on the floor of the Assembly. The idea that thought and speech, howsoever (in whatever way, however) unpalatable (disagreeable, unpleasant, displeasing, distressing) they might be to the ruling establishment (the powers that be the authorities, officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the establishment, the administration), should be policed (oversee, supervise, monitor, regulate, check (up on), watch) poses a grave (serious, critical, severe, dreadful, awful, threatening, alarming) danger for India as an open society.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.endanger (verb)

Hindi Meaning - खतरे में डालना
English Meaning - threaten, jeopardize, imperil, put at risk, be detrimental to.

2.open society (noun)

Hindi Meaning - खुला समाज, उदारवादी समाज
English Meaning - An open society is one that values individual freedom, promotes democratic governance, and allows for the free exchange of ideas and information. It is a society that recognizes and respects the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.

3.disturbing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परेशान करने वाला
English Meaning - discouraging, depressing, distressing, disquieting, disheartening.

4.in the name of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के नाम पर
English Meaning - for the sake of, at the behest of, for the reason of.

5.opponent (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विरोधी, प्रतिद्वंद्वी
English Meaning - rival, adversary, contender, competitor.

6.critic (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आलोचक
English Meaning - criticizer, censurer, castigator, attacker, fault-finder.

7.commentator (noun)

Hindi Meaning - टिप्पणीकार, विश्लेषक
English Meaning - reporter, correspondent, journalist, anchor.

8.charge (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आरोप, अभियोग
English Meaning - accusation, allegation.

9.vague (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अस्पष्ट, अनिश्चित
English Meaning - imprecise, inexact, unclear/uncertain.

10.given (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - ध्यान में रखते हुए
English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

11.move (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कदम, कार्रवाई
English Meaning - action, activity, measure, step.

12.criminalise (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अपराध घोषित करना
English Meaning - make something (an activity) illegal.

13.misuse (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दुरुपयोग
English Meaning - misapplication, exploitation, wrong use, illegal use.

14.undermine (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कमजोर करना
English Meaning - to weaken something gradually or secretly, making it less effective or successful; weaken, erode, subvert, sabotage.

15.constitutional order (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संवैधानिक व्यवस्था
English Meaning - a reasonably stable set of institutions through which a nation’s fundamental decisions are made over a sustained period, and the principles that guide those decisions; put simply, the constitutional order is the combination of institutions and principles.

16.The Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill, 2024 (noun)

English Meaning - it is to provide for more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and organizations and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Bill seeks to provide for effective prevention of certain activities of individuals or organisations. These include any action or speech that constitutes danger to public order, incites violence, disrupts communication, or encourages disobedience to established law and its institutions.

17.Bill (noun)

English Meaning - A Bill is a draft statute that becomes law after it is passed by both the Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President. All legislative proposals are brought before Parliament in the forms of Bills (or) draft statute/law, proposed legislation, proposal (presented to parliament/congress/council for discussion).

18.the executive (noun)

English Meaning - the executive is a branch of government which enforces the law as written by the legislature and interpreted by the judiciary.

19.overreach (noun)

English Meaning - an act of trying to do too much or overdoing something.

20.sweeping (adjective)

English Meaning - extensive, expansive, boundless, unconditional, unrestricted, exhaustive, comprehensive, all-inclusive, all-embracing, far-reaching.

21.move (noun)

English Meaning - a proposal or presentation of a motion, bill, amendment, resolution, or question for consideration.

22.possibility (noun)

English Meaning - chance, likelihood, probability.

23.indeed (phrase)

English Meaning - actually, really, in truth, truly, surely, certainly, as expected.

24.portend (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, herald, foretell, augur, signal, signify, bode (ill), point to (particularly a bad outcome).

25.apparent (adjective)

English Meaning - evident, clear, visible, noticeable, recognizable, flagrant, glaring, obvious, pronounced.

26.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

27.Maoist (noun)

English Meaning - a follower of Maoism (Maoism is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. It is a doctrine to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances). The largest and the most violent Maoist formation in India is the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

28.brainwash (verb)

English Meaning - affect, sway, control, convince, persuade, talk around, prevail on, intimidate, brainwash.

29.front organisation (noun)

English Meaning - any entity set up as the face/front of another organization or group.

30.await (verb)

English Meaning - wait for.

31.assent (noun)

English Meaning - approval, agreement, acceptance, consent, concurrence.

32.come into force (phrase)

English Meaning - effective, operative, in operation, in action, valid.

33.suspect (adjective)

English Meaning - suspicious, dubious, doubtful, under suspicion.

34.offence (noun)

English Meaning - crime, illegal act, breach of the law, violation of the law, wrongdoing, act of misconduct, misdeed.

35.fundraise (verb)

English Meaning - seek financial support for a cause; to collect money for a purpose.

36.front (noun)

English Meaning - an organized political group; front line, vanguard.

37.broadly (adverb)

English Meaning - in general, loosely, roughly, approximately.

38.among other things (phrase)

English Meaning - used to indicate that there are several more things like the one mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all.

39.representation (noun)

English Meaning - portrayal, depiction, characterization, description.

40.constitute (verb)

English Meaning - amount to, account for, compose, comprise, make up.

41.menace (noun)

English Meaning - threat/danger, risk/peril, intimidation.

42.public order (noun)

English Meaning - it is essentially the absence of disorder - the quiet and orderly behaviour of people in public space. It involves people behaving sensibly and rationally, and respecting others.

43.public order (noun)

English Meaning - it means the situation that exists when people obey the laws, rules or authority of the State.

44.tranquility (noun)

English Meaning - peacefulness, restfulness, calmness, quietness.

45.cognisable offence/crime (noun)

English Meaning - an offence for which, a police officer without any warrant has authority to arrest and to start an investigation with or without the permission of a court.

46.non-cognisable offence (noun)

English Meaning - an offence for which, a police officer without any warrant has no authority to arrest.

47.the accused (noun)

English Meaning - the suspected person.

48.warrant (noun)

English Meaning - authorization, permission, consent, sanction.

49.arrest warrant (noun)

English Meaning - It is a written order issued by a Court to a police officer to arrest and produce an offender or to search his premises for a particular thing.

50.term (noun)

English Meaning - prison term, sentence, jail sentence, punishment.

51.Naxal/Naxalite (noun)

English Meaning - Deriving its name from the Naxalbari village of West Bengal, Naxals or Naxalites are members of the Communist Party of India-Maoists (CPI-Maoist), classified under the banned LWE (Left Wing Extremism) groups.

52.frontal (adjective)

English Meaning - at the front/front part/front line.

53.feeble (adjective)

English Meaning - weak, powerless, helpless; insubstantial, unsuccessful, ineffective.

54.resistance (noun)

English Meaning - opposition, confrontation, defiance, fight; refusal to accept, reluctance to accept.

55.regarding (preposition)

English Meaning - concerning, with regard to, in respect of, with reference to, relating to.

56.(Legislative) Assembly (noun)

English Meaning - Assembly/Vidhan Sabha; a legislative body in the states and union territories of India.

57.voice vote (noun)

English Meaning - a voice vote involves the speaker putting a question to the house and then asking the house to put forward its opinion in the forms of ayes (yes) or noes. Based on a rough measure of which side was louder, the speaker decides if the motion was passed or fell through.

58.afterthought (noun)

English Meaning - an idea/thought added later.

59.on the floor (phrase)

English Meaning - in the legislative house (legislature, parliament, congress, council, assembly).

60.take up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - resume, recommence, restart, carry on, continue.

61.Legislative Council (noun)

English Meaning - law-making body or governing body; legislature, parliament, congress, council, assembly.

62.go through (verb)

English Meaning - undergo, be subjected to, come in for.

63.deliberative (adjective)

English Meaning - carefully thought through, carefully discussed; considered, calculated, reasoned, careful, thoughtful, planned, advised, studied.

64.as it turns out (phrase)

English Meaning - as it is, as it stands, as things stand, as it happens.

65.in agreement (phrase)

English Meaning - agreeing, approving or accepting.

66.barring (preposition)

English Meaning - except for, apart from, other than, omitting, excluding, besides, discounting, save for.

67.lone (adjective)

English Meaning - lonely, solitary, unaccompanied.

68.howsoever (conjunction)

English Meaning - in whatever way, however.

69.unpalatable (adjective)

English Meaning - disagreeable, unpleasant, displeasing, distressing.

70.establishment (noun)

English Meaning - the powers that be the authorities, officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the establishment, the administration.

71.police (verb)

English Meaning - oversee, supervise, monitor, regulate, check (up on), watch.

72.pose (verb)

English Meaning - present, constitute, cause, produce, give rise to (a problem/danger).

73.grave (adjective)

English Meaning - serious, critical, severe, dreadful, awful, threatening, alarming.