THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 19, 2016- Topic 1
Those looking for loopholes
are always one step ahead of those seeking to plug them. For decades, since the
‘aaya ram, gaya ram’ days of Indian politics, Parliament and courts have been
coming down on mass DEFECTION and frequent change of party LOYALTIES. But no piece of legislation is a DETERRENT when politicians, for what
are usually self-serving reasons, decide to switch parties. After the Supreme
Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh in July,
most of the party’s MLAs returned under the leadership of a new Chief Minister,
Pema Khandu. But, in a couple of months, they have again DESERTED the Congress to join the People’s Party of Arunachal, a constituent of the
North-East Democratic Alliance, a front led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The reason ADDUCED for the switchover is laughable: to
have better relations with the BJP-led government at the Centre. In effect what
the MLAs have done is get over the legal hurdles to defection. Once the Supreme
Court restored the Congress government of Nabam Tuki, those who had deserted
the party returned on condition that Mr. Khandu, and not Mr. Tuki, be the Chief
Minister. This must have seemed the easiest way to stay in power for those who
had allied with the earlier government of Congress rebels led by Kalikho Pul.
Now, in a replay of the mass defection, the Congress rebels have taken care to
play by the book. There is no unseating of the government, no withdrawal of
support by the ruling party’s MLAs. Instead, the change is neat and clean, from
a Congress government to a pro-BJP PPA government. The Governor had no role;
and a legal challenge to the realignment is made that much more difficult.
Several legislative efforts
have been made to CURB defections. The 52nd Constitution
Amendment provided for disqualification of defectors other than in the case of
a split in the party, involving a group of not less than one-third of its
members. A later amendment disallowed splits, and provided only for merger in
cases where at least two-thirds of the members of one party merged with another
party. This too did not prove to be a deterrent, as has been evident in
Arunachal Pradesh. True, defections engineered through UNSCRUPULOUS means undermine democratic institutions
and SUBVERT the people’s mandate. But, so far, the cure for this MALADY in the form of legislation does not seem to have had any effect. When
defection is made more difficult, the means adopted become even more INVENTIVE. Ideally, the matter of dealing with defection should be left in the hands
of the voters. Legal remedies to what is essentially a political issue will
never work.
:::::::::::::Meanings with example and Synonyms:::::::::::::::::
Defection: the desertion of one's country or cause in favor of an opposing one.
Example: His defection from the Republican Party
Synonyms: desertion, absconding, decamping, flight, apostasy, secession, treason
Loyalties: the quality of being loyal to someone or something.
Example: Her loyalty to her husband of 34 years
Deterrent: able or intended to deter.
Example: The deterrent effect of heavy prison sentences
Synonyms: disincentive, discouragement, damper, curb, check, restraint, obstacle
Deserted: abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.
Example: He deserted his wife and daughter and went back to England
Synonyms: abandoned, thrown over, jilted, cast aside, neglected
Adduced: cite as evidence.
Example: A number of factors are adduced to explain the situation
Synonyms: cite, quote, name, mention, instance, point
out
Curb: a check or restraint on something.
Example: Curbs on the powers of labor unions
Synonyms: restraint, restriction, check, brake, rein, control, limitation
Unscrupulous: having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
Example: These unscrupulous rulers violated every principle of Islam to survive in
power.
Synonyms: unprincipled, unethical, immoral, conscienceless, shameless
Subvert: undermine the power and authority of (an established system or
institution).
Example: An attempt to subvert democratic government
Synonyms: destabilize, unsettle, overthrow, overturn, bring
down
Malady: a disease or ailment.
Example: An incurable malady
Synonyms: illness, sickness, disease, infection, ailment, disorder
Inventive: (of a person) having the ability to create or design new things or to think
originally.
Example: She is the most inventive painter around
