Topic Of The Day:-“Opposition within”
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has already opposed Ms. Mufti’s proposal as have Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh and the State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)unit. Mr. Vajpayee was able to silence opponents within his party and alliance. There is little doubt that Mr. Modi could do the same, given that he is feted within the party and his allies in government would in any case support a ceasefire.
The question is, does he want to? The declaration of a unilateral ceasefire would undoubtedly be to his advantage in the Valley, where the BJP is reviled by many. But Mr. Modi is due to visit Kashmir on May 19, two days after Ramzan begins, and many in Kashmir hope that he might announce a ceasefire then. If he does not do so, he will again have shattered Kashmiri hopes and snubbed Ms. Mufti, as he did her father.
Yet Ms. Mufti also bears responsibility. If she has not done the groundwork to ensure that a unilateral ceasefire will soon be reciprocated, and a political process follows, then she too has played opportunist politics geared towards restoring the credibility of her failing administration. In that case she would have done better to seek common ground with her coalition partner to curtail the counterproductive counterinsurgency campaign and improve governance on the ground.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) Unremitting
Meaning: Never relaxing or slackening; incessant.
Example: “Unremitting drizzle”
Synonyms: Relentless, Continual
Antonyms: Intermittent, Spasmodic
2) Ray
Meaning: Each of the lines in which light (and heat) may seem to stream from the sun or any luminous body, or pass through a small opening.
Example: “A ray of sunlight came through the window”
Synonyms: Beam, Shaft
3) Ceasefire
Meaning: A temporary suspension of fighting; a truce.
Example: “The latest ceasefire seems to be holding”
4) Delegation
Meaning: A body of delegates or representatives; a deputation.
Example: “A delegation of teachers”
Synonyms: Deputation, Delegacy
5) Respite
Meaning: A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.
Example: “The refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering”
Synonyms: Rest, Break
6) Defended
Meaning: Resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger.
Example: “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost”
Synonyms: Protect, Guard
Antonyms: Attack
7) Idle
Meaning: Without purpose or effect; pointless.
Example: “He did not want to waste valuable time in idle chatter”
Synonyms: Frivolous, Trivial
Antonyms: Serious, Meaningful
8) Casualties
Meaning: A person killed or injured in a war or accident.
Example: “The shelling caused thousands of civilian casualties”
Synonyms: Victim, Fatality
9) Reciprocate
Meaning: Respond to (a gesture or action) by making a corresponding one.
Example: “The favour was reciprocated”
10) Constituency
Meaning: A group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
Example: “Most politicians are more interested in the voice of their constituency”
11) Imperative
Meaning: Giving an authoritative command; peremptory.
Example: “The bell pealed again, a final imperative call”
Synonyms: Peremptory, Imperious
Antonyms: Submissive
12) Curtail
Meaning: Reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on.
Example: “Civil liberties were further curtailed”
Synonyms: Reduce, Decrease
Antonyms: Increase, Lengthen
13) De-escalate
Meaning: Reduce the intensity of (a conflict or potentially violent situation).
Example: “They had training in how to de-escalate a situation”
14) Counterinsurgency
Meaning: Military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionaries.
Example: “A counter-insurgency force”
15) Pave the way
Meaning: If something paves the way for/to something else, it makes the other thing possible.
Example: “Scientists hope that data from the probe will pave the way for a more detailed exploration of Mars”
16) Resentment
Meaning: Bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.
Example: “His resentment at being demoted”
Synonyms: Bitterness, Irritation
Antonyms: Contentment, Happiness
17) Lapses
Meaning: (Of a right, privilege, or agreement) become invalid because it is not used, claimed, or renewed; expire.
Example: “He let his membership of CND lapse”
Synonyms: Expire, Terminate
Antonyms: Current, Valid
18) Beleaguered
Meaning: Put in a very difficult situation.
Example: “The board is supporting the beleaguered director”
Synonyms: Hard-pressed, Troubled
19) Allied
Meaning: Joined by or relating to members of an alliance.
Example: “Allied territories”
Synonyms: Federal, Associated
Antonyms: Independent, Hostile
20) Backchannel
Meaning: A secondary or covert route for the passage of information.
Example: “We used him as a diplomatic backchannel”
21) Impetus
Meaning: The force or energy with which a body moves.
Example: “Hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus”
Synonyms: Momentum, Propulsion
22) Hatred
Meaning: Intense dislike; hate.
Example: “Racial hatred”
Synonyms: Loathing, Hate
Antonyms: Love, Liking
23) Lumpen
Meaning: Boorish and stupid.
Example: “The growing ranks of lumpen, uninhibited, denim-clad youth”
24) Alienation
Meaning: The state or experience of being alienated.
Example: “A sense of alienation from our environment”
Synonyms: Isolation, Detachment
25) Faint
Meaning: Lacking conviction or enthusiasm; feeble.
Example: “She sent him a faint answering smile”
Synonyms: Unenthusiastic, Weak
Antonyms: Strong
26) Curtailing
Meaning: Reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on.
Example: “Civil liberties were further curtailed”
Synonyms: Reduce, Cut
Antonyms: Increase, Lengthen
27) Quid pro quo
Meaning: A favour or advantage granted in return for something.
Example: “The pardon was a quid pro quo for their help in releasing hostages”
Synonyms: Exchange, Trade
28) Albeit
Meaning: Though.
Example: “He was making progress, albeit rather slowly”
29) Amenable
Meaning: Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.
Example: “Parents who have amenable children”
Synonyms: Complaint, Biddable
Antonyms: Uncooperative
30) Plethora
Meaning: A large or excessive amount of something.
Example: “A plethora of committees and subcommittees”
31) Martyr
Meaning: A person who displays or exaggerates their discomfort or distress in order to obtain sympathy.
Example: “She wanted to play the martyr”
32) Interlocutors
Meaning: A person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation.
33) Howl
Meaning: A strong expression of emotion, such as anger or disagreement.
Example: “Plans to build a new supermarket have been greeted with howls of protest from local residents”
34) Abandon
Meaning: Give up completely (a practice or a course of action).
Example: “He had clearly abandoned all pretence of trying to succeed”
Synonyms: Renounce, Relinquish
Antonyms: Keep, Claim
36) Reviled
Meaning: Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.
Example: “He was now reviled by the party that he had helped to lead”
Synonyms: Criticize, Censure
Antonyms: Praise, Extol
37) Shattered
Meaning: Damage or destroy (something abstract).
Example: “The crisis will shatter their confidence”
Synonyms: Destroy, Wreck
38) Snubbed
Meaning: Rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully.
Example: “He snubbed faculty members and students alike”
Synonyms: Insult, Slight
39) Coalition
Meaning: A temporary alliance for combined action, especially of political parties forming a government.
Example: “A coalition between Liberals and Conservatives”
Synonyms: Alliance, Union
