Topic Of The Day :-“Unedifying episode: On Kolkata stand-off”
The Supreme Court has defused the situation, but concerns remain over stand-off in Kolkata
In its ostensibly even-handed intervention in the stand-off between the Central and West Bengal governments over the manner of investigation of the Saradha Chit Fund case, the Supreme Court has de-escalated political tensions, at least for now. The decision allowed both sides in the face-off to claim “moral victory” — even if it was West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was forced to climb down from the aggressive posture she took in denying the Central Bureau of Investigation room to question Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. However, while ordering him to cooperate with the CBI in “neutral” Shillong, the Court restrained the CBI from taking any coercive action against Mr. Kumar. The Police Commissioner and his Special Investigation Team investigating the chit fund case had been served a number of notices to appear before the CBI before it sent a team to his house in Kolkata. While Ms. Banerjee may have reason to believe that the timing of the CBI’s operation was politically motivated, her government’s response — manhandling and detaining the CBI officials — was shocking and inexcusable. In the polarised political atmosphere, her belligerence expectedly secured the backing of a large number of Opposition parties, and even had the Congress rally around her during an impromptusit-in protest. However, in attempting to obstruct the CBI action in a court-ordered investigation, Ms. Banerjee once again demonstrated that she is prone to taking arguments over administrative procedures to the streets. A decade ago, she burnished her credentials as the Opposition leader who would dethrone the Left Front combine in West Bengal with heragitation over the Singur land acquisition. But her attempt now to bring the State, where she heads the government, to a grinding halt speaks poorly of her political maturity. Ms. Banerjee is free to read political motives into the actions of a Central agency — but she must conduct that fight politically and by heeding her responsibilities as a Chief Minister. To hold a dharna in aid of an officer who is required for questioning does her no credit.
There are bound to be questions whether this matter should have been escalated to such an unpleasant level. The CBI says there was no proper response to the earlier summonses it sent to the Police Commissioner, and alleges that he could have destroyed evidence that was initiallygathered by the Special Investigation Team that he had supervised in the initial stage of the probe. But it is doubtful whether descending on a senior officer’s residence on a Sunday evening with a large team of officers was the right course of action for the CBI, as it was liable to beinterpreted as a high-handed attempt to browbeat and embarrass the State government. The only way the CBI can escape this impression is by showing that it was justified in demanding the questioning of Mr. Kumar and establishing proof of its suspicions about his role in covering up thescam.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) ostensibly
Meaning : as appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; apparently(adv).
Synonyms : evidently
Antonyms : improbably
Example : “the party secretary resigned, ostensibly from ill health”
2) intervention
Meaning : the action or process of intervening(n).
Synonyms : interference
Antonyms : affront
Example : “a high degree of state intervention in the economy”
3) claim
Meaning : state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof(v).
Synonyms : allegation
Antonyms : answer
Example : “the Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt”
4) aggressive
Meaning : ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression.
Synonyms : combative
Antonyms : complaisant
Example : “he’s very uncooperative and aggressive”
5) posture
Meaning : the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting(n).
Synonyms : aspect
Antonyms : absence
Example : “I got out of the car in an alert posture”
6) restrained
Meaning : characterized by reserve or moderation; unemotional or dispassionate(adj).
Synonyms : discreet
Antonyms : extroverted
Example : “his restrained, gentlemanly voice”
7) coercive
Meaning : relating to or using force or threats(adj).
Synonyms : violent
Antonyms : powerless
Example : “coercive measures”
8) detaining
Meaning : keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention(v).
Synonyms : apprehend
Antonyms : liberate
Example : “she made to open the door, but he detained her”
9) inexcusable
Meaning : too bad to be justified or tolerated(adj).
Synonyms : outrageous
Antonyms : acceptable
Example : “Matt’s behaviour was inexcusable”
10) belligerence
Meaning : aggressive or warlike behaviour(n).
Synonyms : antagonism
Antonyms : favor
Example : “Mortimer was eyeing Guy with belligerence”
11) prone
Meaning : likely or liable to suffer from, do, or experience something unpleasant or regrettable(adj).
Synonyms : decumbent
Antonyms : improbably
Example : “farmed fish are prone to disease”
12) burnished
Meaning : polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing(v).
Synonyms : furbish
Antonyms : dull
Example : “highly burnished armour”
13) dethrone
Meaning : remove from a position of authority or dominance(v).
Synonyms : depose
Antonyms : crown
Example : “he dethroned the defending title-holder”
14) agitation
Meaning : a state of anxiety or nervous excitement(n).
Synonyms : upheaval
Antonyms : calm
Example : “she was wringing her hands in agitation”
15) acquisition
Meaning : an asset or object bought or obtained, typically by a library or museum(n).
Synonyms : gain
Antonyms : loss
Example : “the legacy will be used for new acquisitions”
16) heeding
Meaning : pay attention to; take notice of(v).
Synonyms : obey
Antonyms : ignore
Example : “he should have heeded the warnings”
17) escalated
Meaning : increase rapidly(v).
Synonyms : grow
Antonyms : decline
Example : “the price of tickets escalated”
18) gathered
Meaning : come together; assemble or accumulate(v).
Synonyms : accumulated
Antonyms : dispersed
Example : “as soon as a crowd gathered, the police came”
19) liable
Meaning : responsible by law; legally answerable(adj).
Synonyms : amenable
Antonyms : irresponsible
Example : “the credit-card company is liable for any breach of contract”
20) interpreted
Meaning : explain the meaning of (information or actions)(v).
Synonyms : explained
Example : “the evidence is difficult to interpret”
21) embarrass
Meaning : cause (someone) to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed(v).
Synonyms : agitate
Antonyms : appease
Example : “she wouldn’t embarrass either of them by making a scene”
22) scam
Meaning : a dishonest scheme; a fraud(n).
Synonyms : deceit
Antonyms : frankness
Example : “an insurance scam”
