Hate crime and punishment: On violence over ‘hurt sentiments’
9th July 2022 :The Hindu
♦️There needs to be zero tolerance (शून्य सहनशीलता) for violence over ‘hurt sentiments (भावना, संवेदनशीलता)’ because of hate speech
♦️India’s laws on freedom of expression (अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता) are clear (स्पष्ट, समझने में आसान) about the reasonableness (तर्कसंगतता, निष्पक्षता) of the right to exercise (use, employ, make use of, utilize, practise, apply) it. But hate speech (द्वेषपूर्ण भाषण, अपमानजनक भाषण), directed at communities and intended (जानबूझकर, अभिप्रेत) to fan (incite, provoke, foment, kindle, trigger, spark, instigate, arouse, intensify, increase, exacerbate) communal hatred (नफ़रत, घृणा), is not clearly defined in the law. However, there are provisions (प्रावधान, खंड) in the law that can be interpreted (व्याख्या करना, मतलब, समझना) as allowing for criminalising (अपराधी मानना, गैर-कानूनी घोषित करना) offences (crime, illegal/unlawful act, breach/violation of the law, wrongdoing, act of misconduct, misdeed) that are related to hate speech, in particular those that are likely to incite (उत्तेजित करना, उकसाना) violence. There have been rightful demands, including from the Law Commission of India (भारत का विधि आयोग), to add specific provisions in the Indian Penal Code (भारतीय दंड संहिता) to tackle hate speech. It is imperative (अनिवार्य, अत्यावश्यक) that lawmakers work on doing so, especially in the age of (at this time/period) online media and messaging, where hate speech incidents have burgeoned (grow/increase rapidly, escalate, mushroom, snowball, rocket, skyrocket) into an even more significant problem. That said (in spite of everything, in spite of that, nonetheless, even so, however, despite everything, after everything, having said that), there is no justification for any form of hate speech to be countered (tackle, confront, stand up to, put up a fight against, oppose, resist) with violence. As the adage (saying, proverb, maxim/aphorism) goes, sticks and stones may break bones, but words will not (a physical attack may hurt/injure me but a verbal attack cannot hurt/injure me). There must be zero tolerance for violence. The incident in Amravati, Maharashtra, where a chemist (pharmacist), Umesh Kolhe, was knifed (stab with a knife) to death allegedly (reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently) by three men in retaliation (revenge, vengeance, counter-attack) for his sharing a post in support of (in favour of, approving of, on the side of, to the advantage of, supportive of) former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s comments on the Prophet (a person who is believed to be sent by God to Earth (to say the things that God wants to tell people)) was on the same lines (a manner of doing something; way, method, manner) as the dastardly (wicked/evil, cruel, heinous, wrongful) murder of a tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, in Udaipur a week ago. In both cases, suspects (accused, suspected person) who were incensed (provoke, enrage, infuriate, anger ,outrage) by the remarks took to violence as a counter to (against, in opposition to, contrary to, at variance with) what they perceived as an insult to their religion. The two cases are being probed by the National Investigation Agency (The National Investigation Agency is a central agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. It is functioning as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in the country. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is created following the terror attack in Mumbai on December 26, 2008. It came into being on December 31, 2008, with the passage of the NIA Act of 2008). The culprits (criminal, offender, wrongdoer, lawbreaker, perpetrator), those involved in the planning and execution of these murders, must be brought to book and accorded (give, hand, present) strict punishment for their crimes.
Even as these hate crimes (any criminal offence that is carried out because of hostility or prejudice based on disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation) are investigated, it is imperative on the part of the Union and the State governments to quickly reassure citizens on the need for communal amity (friendship, peace, concord, cooperation) and that the purveyors (a person or group who spreads or promotes an idea, view, etc) of hate speech and those indulging in (become involved in (an undesirable activity)) violence in retaliation will be prosecuted (take to court, bring an action against, take legal action against, accuse, charge). Justice and the application of the rule of law should not only be seen to be done, but needs to be applied in a fair manner without prejudice (bigotry, bias, partisanship, partiality, intolerance, discrimination, preference, one-sidedness, unfairness, inequality, inequity) for or against specific communities. The Union and State governments should not adopt repressive (oppressive, dominating/coercive, authoritarian/draconian) measures (action, step, procedure) by using enforcement authorities (officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government the bureaucracy) to inflict (apply, enforce, exact, impose) collective punishment (a form of sanction/ban imposed on persons or a group of persons in response to a crime committed by one of them or a member of the group) on communities for individual acts of transgression (infringement, contravention, breach, violation, overstepping). Political parties of all hues (character, aspect, appearance), but especially those in power, must refrain from (stop oneself, abstain, desist from, hold back) fanning communal hatred. The unevenness (imbalance, inequality, disproportion, disparity) of government actions has resulted in (cause, prompt, bring about, give rise to) disenchantment (disappointment, dissatisfaction, discontent) among Muslims; the actions of a few criminals among the community have endangered (imperil, threaten, put at risk, put in danger) others. It is unmistakable that the developing quagmire (unfortunate situation, muddle, mix-up) is related to the casual bigotry and the callousness (ferocity, ruthlessness, cruelty, inhumanity) of those who were in responsible positions in the BJP. Governments must reorient (change the focus on) themselves to the rule of law (it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards) and to strict adherence (compliance, observance, conformity) to constitutional (relating to something as per the Constitution; legal, lawful, legitimate) values as the secular (non-religious) fabric (structure, framework, system, foundation) of the country must be preserved (protect, continue, conserve, keep up, maintain, uphold, sustain) at all costs.
✅Courtesy: The Hindu
Important Word List With Meaning
1.sentiment (noun)
Hindi Meaning - भावना, संवेदनशीलता
English Meaning - emotion, sensibility, finer feelings.
2.zero tolerance (noun)
Hindi Meaning - शून्य सहनशीलता
English Meaning - a complete refusal to accept certain behavior.
3.hate speech (noun)
Hindi Meaning - द्वेषपूर्ण भाषण, अपमानजनक भाषण
English Meaning - abusive or disrespectful speech.
4.freedom of expression (noun)
Hindi Meaning - अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता
English Meaning - the ability of an individual or group of individuals to express their beliefs, thoughts, ideas, and emotions about different issues free from government censorship, restraint, or legal penalty.
5.clear (adjective)
Hindi Meaning - स्पष्ट, समझने में आसान
English Meaning - understandable, comprehensible, intelligible, easy to understand, clearly expressed.
6.reasonableness (noun)
Hindi Meaning - तर्कसंगतता, निष्पक्षता
English Meaning - fairness, justification.
7.intended (adjective)
Hindi Meaning - जानबूझकर, अभिप्रेत
English Meaning - deliberate, intentional, calculated, conscious, considered, premeditated, pre-planned.
8.hatred (noun)
Hindi Meaning - नफ़रत, घृणा
English Meaning - enmity, antipathy, antagonism, hostility, resentment, aversion.
9.provision (noun)
Hindi Meaning - प्रावधान, खंड
English Meaning - clause, stipulation, condition, specification, requirement.
10.interpret (verb)
Hindi Meaning - व्याख्या करना, मतलब, समझना
English Meaning - mean, understand, read, infer, conclude, suppose.
11.criminalise (verb)
Hindi Meaning - अपराधी मानना, गैर-कानूनी घोषित करना
English Meaning - make something (an activity) illegal.
12.incite (verb)
Hindi Meaning - उत्तेजित करना, उकसाना
English Meaning - fan, provoke, foment, kindle, trigger, spark, instigate, arouse.
13.Law Commission of India (noun)
Hindi Meaning - भारत का विधि आयोग
English Meaning - The first Law Commission after independence was set up in the year 1955. Subsequent Commissions were constituted from time to time. Usually each Commission is constituted for a term of three years. The 22nd Law Commission was notified on February 24, 2020 but key vacancies in the panel, including that of the chairperson, are to be filled up. The Law Commission shall undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations. It shall also undertake studies and research for bringing reforms in the justice delivery systems for elimination of delay in procedures, speedy disposal of cases, reduction in cost of litigation etc.
14.Indian Penal Code (IPC) (noun)
Hindi Meaning - भारतीय दंड संहिता
English Meaning - The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. The draft was passed into law on 6 October 1860. The Code came into operation on 1 January 1862. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, sub-divided into 23 chapters, comprises 511 sections. IPC deals with crimes and punishments.
15.imperative (adjective)
Hindi Meaning - अनिवार्य, अत्यावश्यक
English Meaning - vitally important, all-important, vital, crucial, critical, essential, necessary.
16.hate crime (noun)
English Meaning - any criminal offence that is carried out because of hostility or prejudice based on disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation.
17.exercise (verb)
English Meaning - use, employ, make use of, utilize, practise, apply.
18.fan (verb)
English Meaning - incite, provoke, foment, kindle, trigger, spark, instigate, arouse, intensify, increase, exacerbate.
19.offence (noun)
English Meaning - crime, illegal/unlawful act, breach/violation of the law, wrongdoing, act of misconduct, misdeed.
20.in the age of (phrase)
English Meaning - at this time/period.
21.burgeon (verb)
English Meaning - grow/increase rapidly, escalate, mushroom, snowball, rocket, skyrocket.
22.that said (phrase)
English Meaning - in spite of everything, in spite of that, nonetheless, even so, however, despite everything, after everything, having said that.
23.counter (verb)
English Meaning - tackle, confront, stand up to, put up a fight against, oppose, resist.
24.adage (noun)
English Meaning - saying, proverb, maxim/aphorism.
25.sticks and stones may break bones, but words will not (phrase)
English Meaning - a physical attack may hurt/injure me but a verbal attack cannot hurt/injure me.
26.chemist (noun)
English Meaning - pharmacist.
27.knife (verb)
English Meaning - stab with a knife.
28.allegedly (adverb)
English Meaning - reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently.
29.retaliation (noun)
English Meaning - revenge, vengeance, counter-attack.
30.in support of (phrase)
English Meaning - in favour of, approving of, on the side of, to the advantage of, supportive of.
31.the prophet (noun)
English Meaning - a person who is believed to be sent by God to Earth (to say the things that God wants to tell people).
32.lines (noun)
English Meaning - a manner of doing something; way, method, manner.
33.dastardly (adjective)
English Meaning - wicked/evil, cruel, heinous, wrongful.
34.suspect (noun)
English Meaning - accused, suspected person.
35.incense (verb)
English Meaning - provoke, enrage, infuriate, anger ,outrage.
36.take to (phrase)
English Meaning - resort to, turn to, have recourse to.
37.counter to (adverb)
English Meaning - against, in opposition to, contrary to, at variance with.
38.National Investigation Agency (NIA) (noun)
English Meaning - The National Investigation Agency is a central agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. It is functioning as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in the country. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is created following the terror attack in Mumbai on December 26, 2008. It came into being on December 31, 2008, with the passage of the NIA Act of 2008.
39.culprit (noun)
English Meaning - criminal, offender, wrongdoer, lawbreaker, perpetrator.
40.bring someone to book (phrase)
English Meaning - punish, penalize, take disciplinary action against, discipline; reprimand, reprove, rebuke, admonish, censure, castigate, criticize, pull up, take to task.
41.accord (verb)
English Meaning - give, hand, present.
42.amity (noun)
English Meaning - friendship, peace, concord, cooperation.
43.purveyor (noun)
English Meaning - a person or group who spreads or promotes an idea, view, etc.
44.indulge in (verb)
English Meaning - become involved in (an undesirable activity).
45.prosecute (verb)
English Meaning - take to court, bring an action against, take legal action against, accuse, charge.
46.prejudice (noun)
English Meaning - bigotry, bias, partisanship, partiality, intolerance, discrimination, preference, one-sidedness, unfairness, inequality, inequity.
47.repressive (adjective)
English Meaning - oppressive, dominating/coercive, authoritarian/draconian.
48.measure (noun)
English Meaning - action, step, procedure.
49.authorities (noun)
English Meaning - officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government the bureaucracy.
50.inflict (verb)
English Meaning - apply, enforce, exact, impose.
51.collective punishment (noun)
English Meaning - a form of sanction/ban imposed on persons or a group of persons in response to a crime committed by one of them or a member of the group.
52.transgression (noun)
English Meaning - infringement, contravention, breach, violation, overstepping.
53.hue (noun)
English Meaning - character, aspect, appearance.
54.refrain from (verb)
English Meaning - stop oneself, abstain, desist from, hold back.
55.unevenness (noun)
English Meaning - imbalance, inequality, disproportion, disparity.
56.result in (verb)
English Meaning - cause, prompt, bring about, give rise to.
57.disenchantment (noun)
English Meaning - disappointment, dissatisfaction, discontent.
58.endanger (verb)
English Meaning - imperil, threaten, put at risk, put in danger.
59.quagmire (noun)
English Meaning - unfortunate situation, muddle, mix-up.
60.callousness (noun)
English Meaning - ferocity, ruthlessness, cruelty, inhumanity.
61.reorient (verb)
English Meaning - change the focus on.
62.rule of law (phrase)
English Meaning - it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.
63.adherence (noun)
English Meaning - compliance, observance, conformity.
64.constitutional (adjective)
English Meaning - relating to something as per the Constitution; legal, lawful, legitimate.
65.secular (adjective)
English Meaning - non-religious.
66.fabric (noun)
English Meaning - structure, framework, system, foundation.
67.preserve (verb)
English Meaning - protect, continue, conserve, keep up, maintain, uphold, sustain.
68.at all costs (phrase)
English Meaning - irrespective of the effort needed; whatever happens; at any price; regardless of, in spite of everything.
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