Columnist-M.S.Shanker

Judicial Spine Restored

The Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to the alleged conspirators, Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, in the Delhi violence case is not merely a judicial determination—it is a rare and welcome moment of constitutional clarity in an age of semantic sabotage. By firmly denying bail based on strong prima facie evidence pointing to an…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

Might Replace Global Order

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s reported reaction to the United States’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—suggesting that Donald Trump might next “capture” Russian President Vladimir Putin—would be laughable if the global situation were not so grave. Such remarks are not merely fanciful; they betray a dangerous normalization of lawlessness in international affairs. If world leaders…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

Vote Chori Unmasked

For nearly a year now, Rahul Gandhi’s favourite political alibi has been the Electronic Voting Machine. Whenever electoral arithmetic refuses to flatter the Congress, the blame is swiftly transferred to “vote chori”, shadowy manipulation, or institutional capture. Yet, every so often, reality intrudes. The latest Karnataka-wide survey on voting preferences has done exactly that—puncturing the…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

Claims and Contradictions

Few geopolitical questions today are as volatile—or as selectively interpreted—as China’s claim over Taiwan. Beijing insists that reunification is inevitable, lawful, and historically ordained. Much of the world urges restraint, dialogue, and maintenance of the status quo. Between these positions lies a hard truth: there is no single, universally accepted answer—only competing narratives, legal interpretations,…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

HAL’s Quiet Triumph

For decades, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has carried an unfair burden. It has been fashionable—almost ritualistic—to undermine India’s premier aerospace public sector undertaking, question its competence, mock its timelines, and dismiss its products as “also-rans” in a world dominated by Western aviation giants. Yet, history has a way of humbling critics. With the Dhruv New…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

SC Stops Misjustice

If the Indian judiciary seeks to retain, let alone restore, public faith, it must confront uncomfortable truths within its own ranks. Judicial independence cannot be allowed to mutate into judicial impunity, especially when judicial orders appear to mock justice rather than uphold it. The Delhi High Court’s recent decision to grant bail to Kuldeep Singh…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

Act Now, Modi

There comes a point in public life where silence stops being strategic and starts becoming shameful. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached that point. Allegations and proven cases of sexual violence, molestation, intimidation of victims, and political shielding of the accused—emanating disturbingly from BJP-ruled states—can no longer be brushed aside as isolated incidents or opposition…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

India’s Dhurandhar Moment

The resounding success of Dhurandhar is not merely a cinematic event; it is a cultural and political statement. It asserts, unapologetically, that India is no longer hesitant about telling its own story—one that acknowledges its capacity to penetrate hostile territory, dismantle terror networks, and expose states that nurture extremism under the guise of diplomacy. For…

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Columnist-M.S.Shanker

End BCCI’s Farce

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently declared, while addressing the Sansad Khel Mahotsav, that irregularities in team selection and sports administration have largely ended after 2014. In many disciplines, that assertion carries weight. India today is a global sporting force—breaking medal tallies at the Olympics and asserting dominance in badminton, wrestling, athletics, and tennis. Sports federations…

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