THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary-August 28, 2017- Topic 1

Anarchy in Panchkula

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's conviction

Nothing shows up the ineptness of the state more than unpreparedness in the face of predictable events. In allowing tens of thousands of followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect to gather for a show of strength when their leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was awaiting a judicial verdict in a rape case, the Haryana government abdicated its responsibility of maintaining law and order, and protecting life and property. 

Prohibitory orders were not enforced, with the government evidently viewing the looming protests as pressure relief valves instead of as trigger points for violence. In the absence of preventive detention where appropriate, and of restriction on movement and assembly in public spaces, matters spiralled out of control once the court pronounced the cult leader guilty of rape. True, mob violence is difficult to control without resort to extreme force, but in this case the government seemed to rely entirely on the good sense of the sect’s followers. It failed to foresee violence on such a large scale, and no viable security plan was in place until after several hours of lawlessness. Despite intelligence inputs about the Dera followers storing fuel, and knives and stones, the government machinery was woefully slow to react. Neighbouring Punjab and Delhi also witnessed violence, but the preparedness of the law enforcers were of a higher order in both those areas. Punjab saw better coordination between the Army and the police, with action being taken at least ten days in advance. Of course, the supporters had gathered in greater numbers in Panchkula and Sirsa, the headquarters of the sect, in Haryana; even so, nothing remotely credible can explain the inadequateness of Haryana’s response to Friday’s mayhem.

Religious sects such as the Dera Sacha Sauda that command a huge following are often handled with kid gloves by governments as they can deliver votes in blocks. Senior BJP leaders, including ministers, have often been seen seeking the blessings of the Dera leader. This is what must have prompted the Punjab and Haryana High Court to come down hard on the Manohar Lal Khattar government for its “political surrender” to the Dera vote bank. Although the remarks are political in nature, and quite unusual coming from a court, they reflect the growing perception that politicians are often in nexus with religious leaders and cult figures. Three years ago, in Hisar, another godman, self-styled “jagat guru” Sant Rampal, defied the police for several days, evading arrest in a contempt case. In that instance, his followers countered the police with Molotov cocktails and acid pouches. Clearly, godmen and cult leaders believe they are above the law. It is for the government and law enforcement agencies to disabuse them of that notion, especially when, as in the case of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, they face charges of rape and murder.

Vocabulary

Ineptness: Lacking or showing a lack of skill or competence

Example: An inept performance.

Predictable: able to be predicted.

Example: The market is volatile and never predictable

Synonyms: foreseeable, only to be expected, anticipated

Abdicate: renounce one's throne.

Example: In 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated as German emperor

Synonyms: resign, retire, stand down, step down, bow out, renounce the throne

Evident: plain or obvious; clearly seen or understood.

Example: She ate the cookies with evident enjoyment

Synonyms: obvious, apparent, noticeable, conspicuous, perceptible, visible

Loom: appear as a shadowy form, especially one that is large or threatening.

Example: Vehicles loomed out of the darkness

Synonyms: emerge, appear, come into view, take shape, materialize, reveal itself

Valve: a device for controlling the passage of fluid or air through a pipe, duct, etc., especially an automatic device allowing movement in one direction only.

Example: A valve shuts off the flow from the boiler when the water is hot enough

Preventive: designed to keep something undesirable such as illness, harm, or accidents from occurring.

Example: Preventive medicine

Synonyms: preemptive, deterrent, precautionary, protective; prophylactic

Spiralled: move in a spiral course.

Example: A wisp of smoke spiraled up from the trees

Synonyms: coil, wind, swirl, twist, wreathe, snake, gyrate, gyre

Foresee: be aware of beforehand; predict.

Example: We did not foresee any difficulties

Synonyms: anticipate, predict, forecast, expect, envisage, envision, see, foretell

Woeful: characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery.

Example: Her face was woeful

Synonyms: tragic, sad, miserable, cheerless, gloomy, sorry, pitiful, pathetic

Perception: the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.

Example: The normal limits to human perception

Contempt: the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.

Example: He showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly

Synonyms: scorn, disdain, disrespect, scornfulness, contemptuousness