Repercussions

Directions: Some words in the news item below have been highlighted. Select the best contextual meaning of the related words.

Suddenly, laissez faire seems to have become the catchword. Television news channels too are handling the case with kid gloves almost as if they are afraid of the repercussions. Everything Arvind Kejriwal says is being prefixed with words like, “alleged, according to,” etc. To a layman, it is clear that things are wrong. Why is everyone putting the onus of proof on Mr. Kejriwal? Strange, very strange for a democracy!