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.
SCO Leaders Condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack
- The 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday strongly condemned terrorism, including the recent attacks in Pahalgam, Jaffer Express, and Khuzdar. The group promised to continue fighting terrorism, separatism, extremism, and also warned against the misuse of mercenaries.
- The Tianjin Declaration, signed by India, Pakistan, Russia, and other member countries, demanded an end to cross-border terrorist movements. It also opposed unilateral punishments like economic restrictions that break UN and WTO rules.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the summit. He spoke against bullying behaviour in global politics and asked leaders to support fairness, justice, and oppose the old Cold War mentality. He said these practices only increase global uncertainty.
- Xi further noted that Cold War shadows and bullying still exist, creating more problems instead of solving them. His comments were seen as a reference to U.S. tariffs and ongoing global instability.
- The summit’s final declaration said the world is going through big historical changes that affect politics, economy, and societies everywhere. It stressed the need to support the Global South during these uncertain times of unstable trade and global tensions.
- Xi also chaired the “SCO plus” meeting, where he suggested a Global Governance Initiative. This proposal focused on fair global governance, equal respect for all countries, following international law, supporting multilateralism, people-focused approaches, and real collective action.
- China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the SCO supports UN systems and multilateralism while rejecting unilateral bullying. He also declared that Pakistan and Armenia have now officially established diplomatic ties.
- The SCO agreed to combine the observer and dialogue partner categories into a single status. Laos joined as a partner, which raised the total strength of SCO to 27—10 members and 17 partners.
- SCO Secretary-General Yermekbayev announced that the members agreed to create an SCO development bank. This was a long-standing goal of Beijing and will help finance joint projects and boost regional growth.
- The member countries also condemned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the civilian deaths, Israel’s attacks, and the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in June. India also joined this collective condemnation.
- On Afghanistan, the declaration said only an inclusive government with representation from all groups can bring long-lasting peace, stability, and national unity.
- Except for India, all other members once again showed support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Xi also announced ¥2 billion in grants this year, ¥10 billion in loans over three years, and called for the quick setup of the new bank.
Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills Over 800, Injures 2,800
- A strong earthquake, followed by several aftershocks, struck Afghanistan late Monday night, collapsing homes and killing more than 800 people while injuring at least 2,800 others, Taliban officials confirmed. Rescue operations are still going on.
- The 6.0-magnitude quake hit just before midnight. It shook buildings from Kabul to Islamabad in Pakistan. The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicentre was 27 km away from Jalalabad.
- The earthquake caused damage in at least five provinces. Rescuers were still pulling out survivors from the rubble, and helicopters were being used to move the injured. Officials warned that the number of deaths could rise further.
- “The search is still going on. Many people are still stuck under the collapsed houses,” said Ehsanullah Ehsan, head of disaster management in Kunar.
- In Kunar province alone, which was close to the epicentre, there were about 800 deaths and 2,500 injuries, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed. In Nangarhar province, 12 people lost their lives and 255 were hurt, while Laghman province reported 58 injuries.
- In Wadir village, Nurgal district of Kunar, residents and rescuers pulled people out of collapsed mud houses using their bare hands. Many injured were shifted to Jalalabad hospitals.
- Experts explained that shallow earthquakes are usually more destructive, and because many Afghans live in mud-brick houses, the damage was even worse.
- Some badly hit villages in Kunar were still cut off because of blocked roads, the UN migration agency reported. Even after 20 hours, locals struggled to clear debris, which slowed rescue work.
- “There is fear everywhere.” Women and children were screaming. “We have never experienced anything like this before,” said Ijaz Ulhaq Yaad, who works with the agriculture department in Nurgal.
- Many of the victims were among the four million Afghans recently sent back from Iran and Pakistan. “They came back to build homes here, but now this has happened,” Yaad said with grief.
- Nangarhar and Kunar provinces share borders with Pakistan. The Torkham crossing is where many deported or displaced Afghans return, often without jobs or permanent homes, making them even more vulnerable.
- UN Chief Antonio Guterres expressed condolences and said the world must support Afghan people after this disaster.
- The Vatican also issued a statement from Pope Leo XIV, expressing that he was deeply saddened by the loss of so many lives in Afghanistan’s eastern mountain regions.
- Afghanistan is an earthquake-prone country because it lies on the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plate boundary. The Hindu Kush mountain range often sees strong quakes.
- Since 1900, northeast Afghanistan has experienced at least 12 quakes stronger than magnitude 7, said British seismologist Brian Baptie, showing the region’s long history of deadly earthquakes.
HC Slams Maratha Quota Protesters for Paralyzing Mumbai
- In a rare three-hour urgent vacation hearing during the Ganesh festival, the Bombay High Court criticized Maratha quota protesters led by Manoj Jarange Patil for bringing Mumbai to a standstill.
- The court ordered the Maharashtra government to clear all protesters from Mumbai streets by Tuesday noon, stop more protesters from entering the city, and ensure that Jarange receives proper medical treatment.
- A special bench of Justices Ravindra V. Ghuge and Gautam A. Ankhed noted that Mumbai was almost completely blocked as protesters spilled outside the designated Azad Maidan protest site.
- Protesters occupied key places like CSMT, Churchgate station, Marine Drive, Flora Fountain, and even surrounded the Bombay High Court building on Monday.
- The judges referred to news reports and videos showing protesters climbing on traffic signals, playing games like kabaddi and tug-of-war, bathing, urinating on streets, and damaging heritage property.
- The bench called the situation unacceptable and said it must be corrected immediately. They stressed that Mumbaikars cannot be troubled any longer, especially during Ganpati celebrations, and normal city life must resume.
- The court noted that protesters were bathing, cooking, and relieving themselves on streets. The court also ordered the protest organisers (respondents 5 to 9) to clean up and restore normalcy in all occupied areas, except Azad Maidan, by Tuesday noon.
- The judges also questioned the protesters’ lawyer Shriram Pingle, asking if such actions could still be called a peaceful protest when they were blocking roads and disrupting the city’s daily functioning.
- The court warned that students could miss classes, employees might not reach offices, and even essential supplies like milk and vegetables could stop, completely disturbing life in Mumbai.
- Jarange, 43, has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan since August 29, demanding 10% reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education.
- His supporters claimed that Jarange stopped drinking water on Monday, making his protest more serious. Concerns about his health were raised before the court.
- The judges remarked that Jarange’s promise to follow rules was just lip service, since protesters even blocked judges’ cars and court gates, stopping access to the High Court itself.
Important Questions
- What did the Tianjin Declaration signed by India, Pakistan, Russia, and other SCO members demand regarding cross-border terrorist movements?
- Why did Chinese President Xi Jinping criticize the Cold War mentality during the SCO summit?
- How many deaths and injuries did Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid report in Kunar province after the earthquake?
- Why did experts say the use of mud-brick houses increased destruction during the Afghanistan earthquake?
- What order did the Bombay High Court give the Maharashtra government about removing Maratha quota protesters from Mumbai streets?
- Why did the Bombay High Court judges say the actions of Maratha quota protesters in Mumbai during Ganesh festival were unacceptable?
Important Vocabulary
- Mercenaries – soldiers hired to fight for money rather than loyalty.
- Instability – lack of stability; situation that changes unpredictably.
- Governance – the way a country or organisation is controlled and managed.
- Condemned – declared something as wrong or unacceptable.
- Collapsed – fell down or gave way suddenly.
- Rubble – broken stones, bricks, or remains of a destroyed building.
- Vulnerable – weak or open to harm, damage, or attack.
- Epicentre – the surface point directly above where an earthquake starts.
- Paralyzing – making something stop completely, unable to function.
- Unacceptable – not allowed; not suitable or proper.
- Respondents – people or groups required to reply in a court case.
- Lip service – saying supportive words without taking real action.
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