Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Gulf on Edge: A War the World Cannot Ignore

The first reports are still fragmentary. What we know, from official statements and early battlefield assessments in the public domain, is this: the United States and Israel have launched coordinated strikes on targets inside Iran. Tehran has retaliated with reported missile attacks on several U.S. military installations across the Gulf region. Claims and counter-claims are…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Verdict or Intermission?

The acquittal of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy case is being celebrated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as moral and political vindication. For Kejriwal, who walked out of court with moist eyes and folded hands, the trial court’s judgment is not merely legal relief — it is a…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Cricket, Conscience, and Bangladesh’s Test of Moral Credibility

The International Cricket Council’s rejection of Bangladesh’s request to shift its T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India is more than a scheduling decision. It is a moment of reckoning—where sport, geopolitics, economics, and moral accountability collide on the same pitch. Bangladesh’s plea, reportedly driven by internal political pressure and “security concerns,” was framed…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

BJP–Shinde Sena Poised to Dominate Mumbai’s Power Citadel

If exit polls are to be believed—and rarely have they been this convergent—the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is headed for a decisive political realignment. The BJP and the Eknath Shinde–led Shiv Sena faction appear set to sweep Mumbai’s civic elections, potentially winning between 130 and 151 seats in the 227-member House. Such a mandate would…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

When the State Besieges the Constitution

If obstructing a court from hearing a petition filed by a constitutional investigative agency does not amount to contempt of the judiciary, then the phrase has lost all meaning. If an elected Chief Minister allegedly snatching official files during an ongoing money-laundering probe does not constitute an assault on the Constitution, then constitutional morality has…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

When Silence Becomes Complicity

Christmas Vandalism and the Modi Government’s Moral Collapse There is something profoundly disturbing—and morally indefensible—about Christians in India being forced to celebrate Christmas under fear. Reports of vandalism in several Indian states, which too governed by the BJP, are simply unacceptable. Organised mobs attacking Christmas trees, tearing them down, disrupting prayer meetings, and indulging in…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Tariffs Won’t Break Bharat

In an increasingly fractious world order, the United States has fired another salvo in its protectionist trade war, this time targeting India with a hefty 25% tariff on select exports, effective August 1.  The intent is obvious — to coerce, to corner, and to compel India into making market concessions.  But Washington is in for…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Jagdeep Dhankhar: The Man They Loved to Hate

The crocodile tears are flowing. Statements are being issued. Hushed tones of sympathy are being spun into “grave concern for democracy.” But let’s not be fooled. The sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar—citing health reasons—has sent the usual suspects into performative overdrive. The same Opposition leaders who mocked, vilified, and tried their best to…

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