News Reading Practice #73

(100 Day Challenge)

MOHAN BHAGWAT’S REMARKS SIGNAL AN ASSERTIVE SANGH
RSS GRABS CHANCE, DELIVERS A RAP

NAGPUR MESSAGE: Narendra Modi has managed to coast to a third straight term as Prime Minister but the reduction of his Lok Sabha numbers to a minority has opened him to renewed scrutiny from the Sangh.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s strong words disapproving “ahankar” (arrogance) of the “sevak” (Modi calls himself pradhan sevak and not PM) and condemning the “bitter” election campaign endangering social harmony are being seen as an indictment of the Modi regime’s house style. A new churn has also set in with leaders in states accusing “internal sabotage” as a prime reason for the setback the BJP faced in strongholds like Uttar Pradesh.

The Modi-Shah duopoly had succeeded in virtually muzzling all such voices over the last decade but the veneer of a controlled regime appears to be coming off with the fabled “Modi magic” failing to secure another thumping majority, as was the poll cry.

 “A true ‘sevak’ should maintain dignity while working… The one who maintains dignity does his work, but remains unattached. There is no arrogance that I did this. Only such a person has the right to be called a ‘sevak’,” Bhagwat said addressing an event on Monday in Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS.

Such strong words had rarely been voiced by the head of the BJP’s motherboard in the last decade. The timing of Bhagwat’s remarks — the day the third Modi government took office — left none in the saffron family in doubt about who they were meant for. It has come after another key RSS leader Ram Madhav in an opinion article in a newspaper termed the 2024 poll results as a “mandate for humility”.

Bhagwat went further making it amply clear that he was aggrieved by the blatantly divisive “mangalsutra” to “mujra” dominated poll campaign led by PM Modi, although he ticked off the Opposition as well.

“The kind of things that were said, the way the two sides castigated each other (during the elections)… the way no one cared about social divisions being created… because of what was being done… and for no reason the Sangh was dragged into this… untruths were spread with the use of technology. Is this the way knowledge should be used? How will the country operate like this?” Bhagwat wondered. “The elections should be viewed as a competition and not a war”.

The Opposition is not ‘virodhi paksh’ (opponent) it is ‘pratipaksh’ (counterpart)”. The RSS chief went on to stress the need for “consensus” building, underlining that “Parliament has two sides so that both sides can be heard”.

 A bitter indictment if one recalls how key legislations had been steamrolled through Parliament by the Modi government and Opposition members summarily suspended in record numbers for pressing that their voices be heard.

RSS DELIVERS A RAP

Bhagwat even flagged the government’s inaction on Manipur. “Manipur is still burning. Who is going to pay attention to it? It is the duty (of the government) to deal with it on priority,” Bhagwat said.

 The import of Bhagwat’s outpouring was seen in BJP circles as a message that Modi could no longer take Nagpur for granted. In his last two terms, Modi fulfilled most of the key ideological demands of the RSS like construction of the Ram temple and abrogation of Article 370 but entertained no meddling by the parent outfit in running the affairs of the party and the government.

The RSS was also not consulted in picking candidates for the Lok Sabha polls and in many cases the reservations expressed by the parent body over candidates were ignored by the BJP leadership.

“The RSS will now assert and that is the message from Sar Sanghchalak (RSS chief),” one BJP leader said, indicating that the return of the current BJP president. J P Nadda to the government was a signal that his comments during the polls that the “BJP was no longer dependent on the RSS” had hurt the ideological parent.

“Not only Nadda’s remarks over the RSS but Modi’s claim that he was not biological. but a godsend also angered us,” one RSS leader said, stressing that the remarks combined with the shrill “Modi ki guarantee” and the over-confident “chaar sau paar” cry reeked of arrogance. “Modi ji has been an RSS pracharak and he should know that humility is the quintessential trait of a swayamsevak,” the RSS leader said.

Amid speculation over who could be the next BJP president, party insiders acknowledged that the RSS would play a key role in the selection. “The new BJP chief has to be vetted by the RSS,” one BJP leader said.

Already, more than one round of consultations has been held between BJP and RSS leaders with sources indicating that the topic of the meetings has been over government formation and also picking a leader to head the BJP.

In addition to the heat from the Sangh, a churn in states from party-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Haryana has started to spill out into the open with party leaders publicly accusing “internal sabotage” as a major reason for the poor polls performance.

In UP, more than one key leader, including ministers who lost the polls, have accused sections of the party, including MLAs, of working to defeat them.

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GRAB - Seize (തട്ടിയെടുക്കുക)

GRAB CHANCE - Seize opportunity. (അവസരം ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തുക-മുതലെടുക്കുക)

DELIVERS A RAP - Criticize (വിമര്‍ശിക്കുക)

REMARK - brief casually expressed thought or opinion (പരാമര്‍ശം)

SIGNAL - Indicate (സൂചിപ്പിക്കുക)

ASSERTIVE - Confident (നിശ്ചയദാര്‍ഢ്യമുള്ള)

COAST TO - Easily achieve or succeed (അനായാസം വിജയിക്കുക)

REDUCTION - Decrease (കുറയല്‍)

SCRUTINY - Examination (സൂക്ഷമപരിശോധന)

DISAPPROVE - Criticize (എതിരഭിപ്രായം പറയുക, പ്രതികൂലിക്കുക, വിമര്‍ശിക്കുക)

CONDEMN - Denounce (അപലപിക്കുക, തള്ളിപ്പറയുക)

BITTER - Harsh (പരുഷമായ)

ENDANGERING - Jeopardizing (അപകടത്തിലാക്കുന്ന)

SOCIAL HARMONY/SOCIAL COHESION - peaceful coexistence and unity within society (സാമൂഹിക ഐക്യം)

REGIME - a government, especially an authoritarian one. (ഭരണം, വാഴ്ച)

INDICTMENT - a formal accusation or charge or criticism (ആക്ഷേപം, കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തല്‍, പഴി)

NEW CHURN - Fresh turmoil (പുതിയ കോലാഹലം - ചര്‍ച്ച)

SET IN - (of something unpleasant or unwelcome) begin and seem likely to continue. (തുടങ്ങുക, തുടക്കമിടുക)

INTERNAL SABOTAGE - internal subversion/Internal betrayal (ആഭ്യന്തര അട്ടിമറി)

SETBACK - a reversal or obstacle that hinders progress or success (തിരിച്ചടി)

STRONGHOLDS - Support area (ശക്തി കേന്ദ്രം, കോട്ട)

DUOPOLY - Two-person control (ദ്വന്ദ്വാധിപത്യം)

VIRTUALLY - almost entirely (ഏതാണ്ട് പൂര്‍ണ്ണമായും)

MUZZLING - Silencing (വായ് അടപ്പിക്കുക, വാമൂടിക്കെട്ടുക)

DECADE - Ten year (ദശാബ്ദം)

VENEER - Appearance (പുറംപൂച്ച്)

FABLED - Legendary (ഐത്യഹ്യം, നുണക്കഥ)

THUMPING MAJORITY - a significant and decisive majority (തകര്‍പ്പന്‍ ഭൂരിപക്ഷം)

POLL CRY - Election slogan (തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് മുദ്രാവാക്യം)

DIGNITY - Respect (അന്തസ്സ്, മഹത്വം)

UNATTACHED - Detached (വൈകാരികമല്ലാത്ത, അലൗകികമായ)

ARROGANCE - Pride (അഹങ്കാരം, ധിക്കാരം)

HEADQUARTERS - Main office (ആസ്ഥാനം)

MOTHERBOARD - Central body (കേന്ദ്രവിഭാഗം)

TAKE OFFICE - Begin term (ചുമതലയേല്‍ക്കുക)

SAFFRON - a dark yellow colour, Hindu nationalist (കുങ്കുമം)

MEANT FOR - Directed at (ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചത്)

TERMED - Called (വിളിക്കുന്ന)

MANDATE - Order, People's fate in election (ജനവിധി)

HUMILITY - Modesty (വിനയം)

AMPLY - more than enough, clearly (പൂര്‍ണ്ണമായി, ഉചിതമാംവണ്ണം)

AGGRIEVED - Upset (ദുഃഖമുള്ള, അതൃപ്തിയുള്ള, സങ്കടമുള്ള)

BLATANTLY - Obviously (പ്രകടമായ, നഗ്നമായ)

DIVISIVE - Splitting (വിഭജിക്കുന്ന)

DOMINATED - Led/to be controlled, governed, or influenced by. (ആധിപത്യമുള്ള)

POLL CAMPAIGN - Election campaign (തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് പ്രചാരണം)

TICK OFF - to speak severely to and criticize (ശക്തമായി വിമര്‍ശിക്കുക)

CASTIGATE - Criticize (ശാസിക്കുക)

DRAG INTO - involve someone or something in a situation (വലിച്ചിഴയ്ക്കുക)

UNTRUTHS - Lies (അസത്യങ്ങള്‍)

WONDER - to ask yourself questions (അതിശയിക്കുക, ചോദിക്കുക)

WENT ON - Continued (തുടര്‍ന്നു)

STRESS - Emphasize (ഊന്നല്‍ നല്‍കുക)

CONSENSUS - Agreement (സമ്മതം, അഭിപ്രായൈക്യം)

UNDERLINING - Highlighting (അടിവരയിടല്‍)

RECALL - Remember (ഓര്‍മ്മിക്കുക)

STEAMROLL - Forced through/to use great force to make someone do something or to make happen (ബലമായി ചെയ്യിക്കുക)

SUMMARILY - Quickly (ഝടിതിയായി, നടപടിക്രമങ്ങളില്ലാതെകുറുക്കുവഴിയായി)

PRESSING - Insisting (അടിച്ചമര്‍ത്തിക്കൊണ്ട്, സമ്മര്‍ദ്ദം ചെലുത്തിക്കൊണ്ട്)

PART - 2


FLAGGED - Highlighted (എടുത്തുപറഞ്ഞു) 

INACTION - Neglect (നിഷ്‌ക്രിയത്വം) 

PAY ATTENTION - Focus (ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുക) 

OUTPOURING - Expression (ചൊരിയല്‍) 

TAKE FOR GRANTED - Assume support (പരിഗണിക്കല്‍, പിന്തുണതേടുക) 

FULFILL - Achieve (നിറവേറ്റുക) 

IDEOLOGICAL - Belief- based (ആശയപരമായ) 

ABROGATION - Repeal (റദ്ധാക്കല്‍) 

ENTERTAINED - give attention or consideration to  (സന്തോഷിപ്പിക്കുക, പരിഗണന നല്‍കുക) 

MEDDLING - Interfering (ഇടപെടല്‍) 

OUTFIT - Organization (സംഘടന) 

CONSULT - Discuss (കൂടിയാലോചിക്കുക, അഭിപ്രായം ആരായുക) 

PICKING - Choosing (എടുക്കുക) 

IGNORE- Overlook (അവഗണിക്കുക) 

ASSERT - State (ഉറപ്പിക്കുക) 

BIOLOGICAL - Natural (ജൈവികമായ) 

GODSEND - Blessing (ഈശ്വരന്‍ അയച്ച, ഈശ്വര പ്രസാദം, ദൈവാനുഗ്രഹം) 

ANGERED - Upset (ദേഷ്യപ്പെട്ട) 

SHRILL - Intense (രൂക്ഷമായ) 

REEKED - Smelled of (നാറ്റം വമിച്ച, ദുര്‍ഗന്ധത്തില്‍ മുങ്ങിയ) 

QUINTESSENTIAL - Essential (സത്ത, ഒഴിവാക്കാന്‍ പറ്റാത്ത) 

TRAIT - Quality (ഗുണം, വിശേഷഗുണം) 

AMID - Among (ഇടയില്‍) 

SPECULATION - Rumors (ഊഹം) 

PARTY INSIDERS - Members (പാര്‍ട്ടിക്ക് അകത്തുള്ളവര്‍) 

KEY ROLE - Important part (പ്രധാന പങ്ക്) 

VET - Evaluate (പരിശോധിക്കുക) 

DEFEAT - Beat (പരാജയപ്പെടുത്തുക)

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