THE HINDU (23.03.

2024) EDITORIAL ANALYSIS

AAP trap
Kejriwal’s arrest a reminder of dangers of misusing enforcement
agencies
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement
Directorate (ED) raises disturbing questions about the direction of India’s democracy and federalism.
The political intent of the arrest of a key leader of the Opposition, and a serving Chief Minister in the
run-up to the general election, is unmistakable. The Delhi excise policy case, in which Mr. Kejriwal
has been arrested, was registered by the CBI in August 2022, based on which the ED launched its
money laundering probe. Several other AAP leaders are in jail — Manish Sisodia from February 2023,
and Sanjay Singh from October 2023. If the ED had evidence of corruption, it should have taken the
case to trial on a war footing. Keeping the accused in jail, while investigators continue their roving
expedition, should be unacceptable in a society ruled by law. When the accused are political
opponents of the ruling party, the arrests will be seen as selective enforcement of the law and
impairs public confidence in democracy itself. The Supreme Court of India had earlier asked the ED
to provide an unbroken chain of evidence showing that ill-gotten money had flowed from the liquor
lobby to Mr. Sisodia. The Court had remarked that the competence of the ED lay in bringing to the
fore uninterrupted proof linking an accused with the crime proceeds. Later, the Court went on to
deny bail to Mr. Sisodia.

This is not the first time a central agency has gone after a constitutional functionary. Hemant Soren
resigned as Chief Minister of Jharkhand before his arrest by the ED. As things stand, the democratic
politics of this country can be brought to a standstill by central agencies, even as the Court and the
Election Commission of India continue to consider all this as routine law enforcement. The pretext
that the law is taking its course will not be convincing to any reasonable mind. It is not a coincidence
that central agencies are arresting only Opposition leaders on charges of corruption, and even those
leaders who faced corruption charges are let off the moment they join hands with the Bharatiya
Janata Party. Mr. Kejriwal rose to national prominence by campaigning for an all-powerful agency
that would obliterate corruption from public life. He and his band of anarchists challenged a
constitutionally elected government through mobocracy, and amplified conspiracy theories such as
notional loss to exchequer more than a decade ago. Mr. Kejriwal himself is now ensnared in the logic
that he popularised. But two wrongs do not make a right.

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 MEANINGS OF DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR USAGE
1. Roving: Aimlessly wandering or traveling with no fixed destination or purpose. [ ]
Syn: Wandering, Rambling, Drifting
Ant: Fixed, Stationary, Settled
Eg: A roving reporter for ABC news

2. Expedition: A journey undertaken for a specific purpose, often involving exploration or research.
[ ]
Syn: Exploration, Venture, Journey
Ant: Retreat, Withdrawal, Inaction
Eg: The scientific expedition to Antarctica yielded valuable data about climate change.

3. Lobby: A group of individuals or organizations attempting to influence political decisions or

policies.
Syn: Advocacy group, Pressure group, Interest group
Ant: Opponent, Critic, Dissenter
Eg: The environmental lobby campaigned for stricter regulations on carbon emissions.

4. Standstill: An important discovery or development that helps to solve a problem. [ ]

Syn: Halt, Stoppage, Stalemate
Ant: Progress, Movement, Advancement
Eg: The traffic accident brought the highway to a standstill for several hours.

5. Pretext: A false reason or excuse used to justify an action or behavior. [ ]

Syn: Excuse, Cover, Pretense
Ant: Truth, Reality, Authenticity
Eg: He used the pretext of feeling unwell to avoid attending the meeting.

6. Obliterate: To destroy completely; to erase or wipe out. [ ]

Syn: Annihilate, Eradicate, Exterminate
Ant: Preserve, Maintain, Protect
Eg: The volcanic eruption threatened to obliterate the entire village.

7. Anarchist: A person who promotes disorder or opposes authority and organized government.
[ ]
Syn: Rebel, Dissenter, Revolutionary
Ant: Loyalist, Conformist, Law-abiding citizen
Eg: The anarchist group vandalized public property during the protest.

8. Mobocracy: Rule or control by a mob; a state of chaos or disorder caused by the actions of a
mob.
Syn: Mob rule, Anarchy, Lawlessness
Eg: The riot devolved into mobocracy as protesters clashed with law enforcement.
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9. Exchequer: The treasury or financial resources of a government. [ ]
Syn: Treasury, Coffers, Public funds
Ant: Debt, Deficit, Financial shortfall
Eg: The government allocated funds from the exchequer to improve public infrastructure.

10. Ensnared: Caught or trapped, often in a situation from which it is difficult to escape.
[ ]
Syn: Entrapped, Captured, Caught
Ant: Freed, Released, Escaped
Eg: The rabbit was ensnared in the hunter's trap.

PHRASAL VERBS:
1. Let off: To release or excuse someone from blame or punishment.
Eg: The judge decided to let the accused off with a warning due to lack of evidence.

PARAPHRASING OF THE EDITORIAL IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE

The recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal by the
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sparked concerns about the misuse of enforcement agencies for
political purposes. Kejriwal's arrest, along with other AAP leaders, ahead of the general election,
raises questions about the selective targeting of opposition figures.

The case against Kejriwal stems from the Delhi excise policy and subsequent money laundering
investigations by the ED. While it is crucial to address corruption allegations promptly, prolonged
detention without swift legal proceedings undermines the principles of justice and erodes public
trust in democracy. The Supreme Court's insistence on a robust chain of evidence further
underscores the need for transparency and due process in such cases.

This incident is not an isolated one, as similar actions against opposition leaders have occurred in the
past. The wielding of central agencies to target political adversaries risks paralyzing democratic
processes and institutions. Moreover, the perception of partisan enforcement undermines the
credibility of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary.

The pretext of following legal procedures does little to assuage concerns about political interference
in law enforcement. The pattern of targeting opposition figures while showing leniency towards
those who align with the ruling party raises suspicions of ulterior motives behind such actions.

Kejriwal's trajectory from a crusader against corruption to a target of enforcement agencies

highlights the complexities of Indian politics. While his past advocacy for anti-corruption measures is
notable, his current predicament underscores the dangers of unchecked power and the need for
accountability in governance.

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In conclusion, while addressing corruption is essential, it must be done within the bounds of the law
and without political bias. The arrest of opposition leaders like Kejriwal serves as a reminder of the
fragility of democratic norms and the imperative of safeguarding institutional integrity.

MATCH THE FOLLOWING:

1) Obliterate a) Coffers
2) Ensnared b) Excuse
3) Exchequer c) Exploration
4) Pretext d) Rambling
5) Expedition e) Eradicate
6) Roving f) Caught

Key: 1-e, 2-f, 3-a, 4-b, 5-c, 6-d

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