Table of Contents
The Hindu Editorial Analysis
We understand the significance of reading The Hindu newspaper for enhancing reading skills, improving comprehension of passages, staying informed about current events, enhancing essay writing, and more, especially for banking aspirants who need to focus on editorials for vocabulary building. This article will explore today’s editorial points, along with practice questions and key vocabulary.
Government and Opposition Clash Over Vande Mataram
- The Centre and the Opposition argued in Lok Sabha about Vande Mataram, where Prime Minister Modi called the song the “voice of the freedom struggle” and accused Congress of breaking its unity because they gave in to the Muslim League at that time.
- Modi began the discussion on the 150 years of the National Song and said Jawaharlal Nehru let down Vande Mataram by accepting Jinnah’s religious objections. Modi said this decision weakened the song’s power to unite the country.
- Priyanka Gandhi asked why such a debate was even needed and accused the government of raising this topic only to distract people from real problems like joblessness, rising prices, and other issues troubling ordinary citizens.
- She said the debate seemed connected to the upcoming West Bengal elections and claimed the government wanted to bring new charges against freedom fighters instead of solving today’s problems.
- Modi said every Indian living in a free country should be thankful to Vande Mataram because it inspired people to fight British rule. But he accused Congress of cutting the song short and weakening its original spirit for political benefits.
- He said Nehru wrote to Subhas Chandra Bose in 1937 saying that Jinnah did not like Vande Mataram and that some parts of the novel Anand Math might upset Muslims. Modi said this was proof that Congress betrayed the song for political adjustments.
- Modi argued that breaking up the National Song was an example of appeasement politics and that this attitude indirectly supported the idea of Partition. He blamed Congress for decisions that affected national unity during very important years.
- Modi also said that the British tried to force Indians to accept “God Save the Queen,” but Vande Mataram rose above politics and became a sacred call that encouraged Indians to remove British rule and protect the honour of Bharatmata.
- Priyanka Gandhi strongly defended Nehru and said if Modi keeps attacking him, then there should be one long discussion on Nehru alone so that everything can be settled and the country can then focus on present-day problems.
- She said Vande Mataram is already loved by people across the country, so this debate is unnecessary, and it is strange that something so respected is being turned into a political fight.
- Priyanka said Bankim Chandra first wrote two stanzas in 1875, and four more were added seven years later. She explained how the song developed, rejecting claims that Congress damaged its original form.
- She pointed out that the song became famous when Tagore sang it at the 1896 Congress session and that it became a powerful slogan for freedom fighters for many decades.
- She said the controversy started only in the 1930s because of rising communal tensions, not because Congress disliked the song, and that historical context must be understood.
- She said that on 28 October 1937, the Congress Working Committee officially accepted the first two stanzas, and leaders like Gandhi, Patel, Nehru, Bose, and Tagore were all present, showing a united decision.
- She also said the Constituent Assembly accepted Vande Mataram without any disagreement, and leaders like Ambedkar and Shyama Prasad Mookerjee supported it, proving that the approved version had support from people of all ideologies.
- Priyanka said questioning this accepted version insults great leaders who made decisions to keep the country united, and doing so goes against the spirit of the Constitution and the values of the freedom movement.
Goa Nightclub Owners Flee to Thailand After Deadly Fire
- The main accused and owners of the Arpora, Goa nightclub escaped to Phuket, Thailand just hours after a huge fire killed 25 people, according to Goa Police.
- Police said they have already begun officially coordinating with the Interpol Division of the CBI to bring back owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra as soon as possible since they immediately ran out of the country.
- After an FIR was filed, Goa Police asked for a lookout circular on 7 December. The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that the two accused took a 5:30 a.m. flight to Phuket right after the incident.
- A Goa Police team was sent to Delhi to search the owners’ houses. When they were not found, police pasted legal notices on their gates to show that they were deliberately avoiding the investigation.
- Police officials said these notices make it clear that the accused are not cooperating and are trying to run away from responsibility for the deadly fire in the nightclub.
- A joint effort by Goa Police and Delhi Police led to the arrest of the fifth accused, 49-year-old Bharat Kohli, who was caught in Delhi’s Sabzi Mandi area after questioning the nightclub staff.
- Police found out that Kohli was in charge of daily operations of Birch by Romeo Lane and worked on behalf of the owners. His role became clearer after one of the workers’ statements.
- The Goa government suspended three officers who were first found responsible for wrongfully issuing or renewing permits for the nightclub, showing that there were mistakes and negligence in licensing.
- Several other government officials connected to giving licences and permissions to the nightclub have been called for questioning to see if there were procedural failures or safety violations that allowed unsafe functioning.
- Police said the investigation is being done on priority, and more strict action will be taken based on what the inquiry finds. Authorities said all safety violations will be handled seriously.
- A fact-finding committee led by a retired judge visited the destroyed nightclub and spoke to reporters. They said their independent investigation has started and they will give a full report soon.
- The State government has created two committees: one led by the Bardez District Magistrate with Police, Fire, and Forensic officials, and another led by the Revenue Secretary to check all nightclubs, review safety rules, find violations, and suggest improvements.
RS Approves Bill to Levy Cess on Pan Masala Units
- Rajya Sabha passed the Health Security Cess Bill after a debate on Monday, even though the Opposition argued that the Bill hurts State rights and weakens India’s federal structure.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replied that during UPA years, cesses made up seven percent of revenue, but now it is only 6.1 percent. She denied that the Centre was holding back States’ share.
- She explained that the Bill adds a cess on tobacco and pan masala manufacturing units to raise money for national security and increase spending on public health.
- Opposition members asked for clear details on how the collected money will be shared with States and Union Territories since health is a subject that Constitutionally belongs to the States.
- Ashok Mittal said that Central cesses harm States because a CAG report said that ₹3.69 lakh crore collected through cesses was never transferred to proper accounts.
- He criticised Section 21 of the Bill, which allows courts to act only if the commissioner gives approval. He said this creates an “Inspector Raj” where people cannot go to court easily if officials make mistakes.
- Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale and CPI(M)’s John Brittas also raised concerns, saying the Bill reduces accountability and prevents States from fully exercising their authority.
- DMK MP Kanimozhi said Tamil Nadu will never accept the Centre slowly taking away its autonomy and revenue in the name of reforms.
Important Questions
- Why did Prime Minister Modi accuse Congress of “appeasement politics” during the Lok Sabha discussion on Vande Mataram?
- How did Priyanka Gandhi describe the “historical context” behind the Congress Working Committee’s 1937 decision to adopt the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram?
- Why did Goa Police issue a “lookout circular” after the Arpora nightclub owners left India on a flight to Phuket?
- How did the joint Goa Police and Delhi Police investigation confirm Bharat Kohli’s responsibility for “managing daily operations” at Birch by Romeo Lane?
- Why did Opposition members argue that the Health Security Cess Bill threatens the “federal balance” between the Centre and the States?
- How did Ashok Mittal use the CAG report mentioning ₹3.69 lakh crore in untransferred cesses to challenge the Health Security Cess Bill?
Important Vocabulary
- Fragmenting – Breaking something into smaller or weaker parts.
- Unanimously – With everyone agreeing without any disagreement.
- Irritate – To cause annoyance or discomfort.
- Confrontation – A direct and often aggressive argument or clash.
- Deliberately – Done on purpose, not by mistake.
- Irregularly – Not following proper rules or correct procedure.
- Compliance – Following safety rules or required standards.
- Interrogation – Questioning someone formally to get information.
- Infringes – Violates or restricts someone’s legal rights.
- Accountability – Being responsible for actions and answerable for mistakes.
- Inspector Raj – A situation where officials have excessive control over people or businesses.
- Autonomy – The power of a State or group to make its own decisions independently.
Download Online Mock Test Mobile APP
3
