Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Indian National Congress is not just at a crossroads—it’s teetering on the edge of political extinction, clutching the hem of its last dynast while the rest of the country marches firmly into the future. And as I observe the chaos from the sidelines, I can’t help but classify today’s Congressmen…
The Cancer of Corruption Spreads: Brokers, Bribes, and the Betrayal of Hyderabad’s Young Cricketers. As I continue my relentless effort to expose the rot that has hollowed out Hyderabad cricket, a particularly sordid episode last week laid bare the depth of corruption and moral decay infecting the system. This case isn’t just disturbing—it’s emblematic of…
Rot, Reform, and the Rare Idealist In my ongoing conversations with those who once brought pride to the Hyderabad Ranji team, I met a man whose story is both inspiring and maddening, for what it says about personal integrity and the institutional rot that now surrounds it. Meet Rayapeth Arjun Swaroop, a forgotten gem of…
In a curious twist this past week, the Supreme Court of India stayed Enforcement Directorate (ED) action against Tamil Nadu’s state-run liquor monopoly, TASMAC. What stood out was not just the stay itself, but the sharp rebuke delivered by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai. “Your ED is crossing all limits,” he remarked, questioning how a criminal…
In the absurd theatre of Pakistan’s military establishment, self-delusion now comes with an extra star. General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, is reportedly projecting himself as a de facto Field Marshal—a title historically earned through decisive battlefield victories. What exactly is Munir being celebrated for? For standing by helplessly while India’s “Operation Sindoor”…
Let me say this without mincing words: India does not need Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as an ally in its ongoing strategic standoff with Pakistan. Nor has External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s recent phone call to Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, been any sign of seeking support. It was a diplomatic courtesy—nothing more,…
Well, well. Narendra Modi said he’d make Pakistan bleed—and boy, has he delivered. Within just three days, India’s meticulously prepared armed forces have rained fire and fury on Pakistan with such precision that Islamabad is still reeling, unsure whether to shout, surrender, or simply sit down and cry. And for all its nuclear chest-thumping, what…
It’s official. Pakistan begged for mercy. And the world, led by Washington, watched as India gave a clinical lesson in how to dismantle a terror ecosystem without crossing a single international boundary. At approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday, a ceasefire was announced, brokered by none other than U.S. President Donald Trump — a friend India…
MS Shanker A Spinner’s Straight Talk: Venkatapathy Raju on HCA’s Decline and the Way Forward In my continuing series on the downfall—and the much-needed revival—of Hyderabad cricket, I’ve spoken to several former players and insiders. Each has offered a distinct insight into the rot that has gripped the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). But none have…
Over the past week or so, I’ve noticed some of my well-placed friends, many of whom I deeply respect and who stood by me in trying times — squirming over my columns. They find my editorials “too harsh,” my views “too direct,” and my refusal to conform “too dangerous.” I’m not here to fault them….
