Warning Signs for BJP and Warning for BJP

The recent assembly election win in West Bengal is historic. It transcends standard electoral politics, carrying massive implications for national security, women’s safety, and the pushback against blatant appeasement politics. It was a mammoth effort by multiple government stakeholders who steadfastly performed their duties in the face of life-threatening situations to ensure a free, safe, and fair election.

Naturally, the BJP cadre is jubilant, and party high functionaries are riding high. While the next general election is still three years away—with critical state elections like Uttar Pradesh lined up in the interim—the BJP cannot afford to remain purely euphoric. The headwinds are picking up pace.

Crucially, these headwinds are not the making of opposition parties, nor are they whipped up by foreign-funded activists. They are the natural outcome of a decade-and-a-half-long rule. Some of these issues are of the BJP’s own making, however inadvertent, while others—like the geopolitical fallout of the Iran crisis leading to global inflation—are entirely out of their control.

Past crisis-management tactics may not suffice here. Unless the BJP and its top leadership take concrete steps now, these headwinds could whip up a silent storm that blows away the election results of 2029.

1. The NEET Fiasco: A Masterclass in Poor Messaging

On the surface, the NEET episode looks like standard bureaucratic incompetence rather than deep-rooted corruption. There is also plausible evidence suggesting external forces purposefully tried to paralyze the system through incessant attacks. Whatever the root cause, the central government completely botched the post-scam messaging.

Dharmendra Pradhan fundamentally failed as a minister. He failed to calm public anxiety, evaded effective media scrutiny, and allowed millions of students to suffer in silence. While a fact-finding committee will eventually uncover how the fiasco happened, the immediate job of the government was to be transparent and rebuild student confidence.

The Need for Leadership Accountability

Since 2014, Prime Minister Modi has cultivated an incredible rapport with India's youth through initiatives like Pariksha Pe Charcha, signaling that student well-being was a top priority. Yet, when a pan-India exam bungled this colossally, his silence was deafening; speaking directly to the students—and apologizing if necessary—should have been at the top of the political agenda. With tragic student suicides tied directly to the NEET fiasco dominating headlines, the government cannot fully detach itself from the responsibility, leaving a palpable public anger that will eventually bite back.

Public anger is palpable. While it may not impact the BJP immediately, it is a compounding resentment that will eventually bite back.

2. The Turncoat Liability: Drawing a Red Line

For the love of God, the BJP must stop welcoming turncoats from opposing parties and aligning with opportunistic defectors.

While it is deeply satisfying to watch the TMC unravel like a deck of cards—given that they operated like a political mafia, bleeding the state dry—we cannot ignore who these turncoats are. These roughly 20 MPs and 60 MLAs suddenly feeling "pangs of conscience" after a resounding defeat were perfectly happy to align with Mamata Banerjee during the darkest days of her rule. They stood by silently through years of political violence, extortion, and targeted communal violence. Most damningly, they were ready to continue with the TMC even after opposition activists were slaughtered following the 2021 assembly elections.

The Pragmatism Trap: The BJP leadership might argue that passing critical legislation (like the UCC, NRC, Delimitation, or anti-conversion bills) requires maximizing Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha strength by any means necessary. There is mathematical logic to that.

However, a ideological red line must be drawn. It is already disheartening to see the political compromises made in Maharashtra with the NCP; the party must not lower itself further by standing in line with former TMC elements.

Voters place their faith in the BJP because of its core ideology and beliefs. If key bills are delayed because the party chooses to wait patiently for a genuine mandate, the voter base will understand. I vividly remember being a supporter of Arvind Kejriwal in 2011 and feeling my gut churn when he eventually shared a podium with Lalu Prasad Yadav. The BJP must not do that mistake.

3. It’s the Economy, Stupid!

The Indian economy has undergone epochal changes since 2014. Income levels, living standards, infrastructure, and national ambition have seen a generational uptick over the last 12 years.

However, the current geopolitical crisis involving Iran has the potential to derail this growth, threatening a tsunami of inflation over the next six months. While this global instability is not the government's fault, domestic vulnerabilities will worsen it. Under the cover of inflation, we often see the worst traits of certain business owners emerge: price gouging and a refusal to pass tax benefits down to consumers.

If household incomes fail to keep pace with real, ground-level inflation, the implications for the 2029 general election will be severe. When citizens see less money staying in their pockets, they get nervous. That is precisely when a maverick opposition politician promising unsustainable freebies can successfully convince voters to jump ship.

Recommended Course Corrections:

• Relief at the Pump: The government needs to aggressively reduce petrol prices over the next couple of years.

• Leadership Transition: The Finance Ministry needs a change in leadership. On the ground, the current leadership does not inspire confidence among taxpayers.

• Tax Stability: The arbitrary nature of both personal and investment taxation must stop.

The UPA-II regime did not just fall because of extreme corruption and weak leadership; it fell because hyperinflation directly wrecked household budgets. While the current situation is far less dire—thanks to a strong Prime Minister and a functioning economy firing on multiple engines—inflation is blind to politics. If left unaddressed, it will wreak havoc.

Conclusion: Confronting Hubris

After 12 years of continuous rule with three more to go in the current term, there is a legitimate worry that political hubris is setting in. Some of the public statements coming out of the Finance Ministry over the last year have verged on arrogant and tone-deaf.

This is not the time for complacency. The economic and governance foundation built over the last decade still requires immense, careful work—and only a focused, grounded government can finish the job.

Poribortan of the East - The Bengal Files!

The recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections will be remembered as one of the most consequential in India’s political history. The BJP’s decisive victory not only ends 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule but sends strong reverberations across the country’s electoral landscape. It offers the BJP an unprecedented opportunity to govern the entire Ganga-Brahmaputra region, while putting the opposition, particularly regional satraps, on notice.

The Rot of Prolonged Misrule

West Bengal has suffered decades of governance failure—first under the Left Front for nearly 34 years, and then under Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress for another 15. Voters had initially turned to Mamata Banerjee hoping for change from the stagnation and corruption of the Left. Instead, they got a more chaotic and extractive regime. What followed was a toxic mix of incompetence, institutional capture, extortion (“hafta vasooli”), and syndicate raj. Major scams — from the Saradha Chit Fund to Rose Valley and the teachers’ recruitment scandal — became symbols of systemic loot. Industrial flight accelerated as investors fled the uncertainty, political violence, and constant extortion. Infrastructure lagged, jobs dried up, and Bengal continued to fall behind other states that benefited from central schemes. The administration was reduced to a family-centric fiefdom where loyalty mattered more than competence. Police and bureaucracy were politicized. Complaints of goonda raj were routinely ignored as long as the ruling party’s money-making machinery remained untouched. The result: a steady exodus of talent, capital, and hope.

Appeasement, Demographic Engineering, and Violence

Mamata Banerjee’s political formula relied heavily on consolidating the Muslim vote bank, which included large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh. In return for this support, the government was often seen as bending over backwards — from resisting border fencing to selective enforcement of law and order. Incidents of communal tension, attacks on Hindu festivals, land encroachment in border areas, and cattle smuggling were either downplayed or ignored. The Sandeshkhali atrocities, post-poll violence after 2021, and targeted attacks on BJP workers exposed the regime’s willingness to use violence as a political tool. Sexual violence was allegedly weaponized to silence dissent. The administration’s selective outrage and open defiance of central authorities on national security issues further alienated large sections of the population.
This hubris eventually became the regime’s undoing. What began as clever electoral arithmetic was increasingly perceived as anti-national cynicism and majoritarian persecution of the state’s Hindu population.

BJP’s Organizational Learning and Central Resolve

The BJP’s 2021 performance (winning 77 seats from near zero) showed promise but fell short due to organizational gaps and post-poll reprisals. This time, the party ran a sharper campaign, corrected past mistakes, and positioned itself as the credible alternative.

Crucially, the Central Government and the Election Commission learned from 2021. Key interventions included:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to remove illegal and duplicate voters — a constitutionally mandated exercise that faced fierce resistance from TMC.
• Large-scale deployment of central forces (CRPF) to ensure free and fair polling, independent of state police control.
• Firm backing from the courts, which largely rejected attempts to obstruct the election process.

These steps helped create an environment where voters felt safer to express their true preference. The contrast with the fear and intimidation of previous elections was stark.

A New Chapter for Bengal

The people of West Bengal have spoken decisively. After enduring years of misrule, corruption, and fear, they chose change. The BJP now has a historic mandate to transform the state — from rebuilding industry and infrastructure to restoring law and order and economic dignity.

For Modi and Shah, this presents a rare opportunity to deliver visible development in India’s east and prove that “double engine” governance can work even in challenging political terrain. The road ahead won’t be easy. The new government must focus on healing divisions, attracting investment, and delivering governance that rises above the cycle of vendetta and appeasement.

Kudos to the Election Commission and central forces for their professionalism under difficult circumstances, and most importantly, to the voters of Bengal for showing courage and rejecting the politics of fear and entitlement.

Poriborton has finally arrived.

The Rise of AAP and Fall of P'AAP!

The recent collapse in AAP’s fortunes is both ironic and deeply satisfying. What began as a seemingly unstoppable “aam aadmi” revolution has unraveled with remarkable speed. Delhi, once its impregnable fortress, fell decisively in the February 2025 assembly elections. The party was reduced to just 22 seats out of 70, with Arvind Kejriwal himself losing from New Delhi to BJP’s Parvesh Verma. BJP stormed back to power in the capital after 27 years. Then, in April 2026, came another body blow: seven of AAP’s ten Rajya Sabha MPs, including prominent faces like Raghav Chadha and Swati Maliwal, merged with the BJP. The party that once positioned itself as the clean, principled alternative now looks like a crumbling edifice.

This is not mere electoral misfortune. It feels like the systematic dismantling of a political project that rose by weaponizing public anger but ultimately betrayed the very ideals it claimed to champion.

The Rise: Tapping into Genuine Rage — With an Orchestrated Touch?

In the early 2010s, India was simmering with discontent. The UPA-II government under Manmohan Singh was mired in massive corruption scandals — 2G, coal, CWG — policy paralysis, high inflation, and frequent terror incidents. Public trust in the system had hit rock bottom. Arvind Kejriwal skillfully rode this wave. Aligning first with Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, he projected himself as the earnest activist. The protests were energetic, well-organized, and unusually well-funded for a grassroots effort. In hindsight, the AAP’s rapid rise — even before it formally adopted the name — bears an uncanny resemblance to the timelines and choreography of the Arab Spring movements, which were widely rumored to have received backing from Western intelligence agencies and foundations to destabilize regimes. Kejriwal’s own NGOs had received funding from organizations like the Ford Foundation, and he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2006. While AAP has always dismissed such links as baseless and aimed at supporting RTI work, the pattern of lavish resources, slick media management, and a perfectly timed anti-corruption storm raises legitimate questions. Was this entirely an organic outpouring of public frustration, or was there an element of external orchestration at play — similar to how certain color revolutions and regime-change movements have been supported abroad? The sudden flush of cash, the disciplined messaging, and Kejriwal’s swift pivot from activist to politician suggest it may not have been a purely indigenous phenomenon.

Whatever the backstage support (if any), Kejriwal tapped into real anger masterfully. He soon broke away, formed the Aam Aadmi Party, and promised a new kind of politics — transparent, accountable, and free from dynasties and corruption.

The timing was perfect. In Delhi and later Punjab, voters were exhausted by Congress and regional parties’ hubris and scandals. AAP swept to power in Delhi in 2015 and 2020, and achieved a landslide in Punjab in 2022. For a while, it seemed like a genuine people’s movement. But cracks appeared early. Kejriwal quickly sidelined original allies — the Bhushans, Yogendra Yadav, and even Anna Hazare faded from the scene. Promises were abandoned with ease: “We will not form a political party,” “We are not hungry for power,” “We will never compromise on principles.” What followed was classic power politics, complete with purges and the installation of loyalists.

The Paap: Hypocrisy and Overreach

Once in power, governance often took a backseat to confrontation and ambition. AAP’s signature style became relentless fights with the Lieutenant Governor, the Centre, and anyone who disagreed. The “holier than thou” image began to crack under allegations of financial irregularities, especially the controversial Delhi excise policy. Enforcement Directorate probes have also highlighted irregularities in foreign donations received by the party between 2014 and 2022.

Particularly damaging were certain political choices that crossed personal and national red lines:
• Kejriwal’s attempt to drag Prime Minister Modi’s wife into election rhetoric was crude and counterproductive. It added nothing substantive but revealed a willingness to stoop low for headlines.
• After the 2016 Uri surgical strikes, Kejriwal’s statements — offering a “salute” to the Army while immediately demanding “proof” in a manner that echoed Pakistani talking points — eroded the credibility he once enjoyed among middle-class voters. At a time when national security sentiment was high, this came across as opportunistic.

Kejriwal’s ambition always seemed national, yet his party struggled to expand meaningfully beyond Delhi and Punjab. The reliance on drama, freebies, and centralized control around one man created structural weaknesses.

The Reckoning

Hubris eventually invited downfall. The liquor policy case became a symbol of how far the party had strayed from its founding promises. Central agencies moved in, several top leaders faced arrest, and Kejriwal was forced to step down as Chief Minister. His attempt to install his wife as a proxy, reminiscent of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tactics, failed to impress voters.In the 2025 Delhi elections, the people delivered a clear verdict. Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and other heavyweights lost. The “Delhi model” that was once sold aggressively no longer convinced enough voters. The recent exodus of seven Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP in April 2026 has further exposed the hollowness — when power and positions vanish, loyalty evaporates. Legal proceedings in the excise policy case continue, with Kejriwal recently refusing to appear before the Delhi High Court, citing lack of faith in the process. The Modi-Shah duo appears to have treated AAP not just as a political rival but as a force that needed to be neutralized at every level — electorally, legally, and organizationally. Whether one calls it strategic mastery or vendetta, the result is the same: AAP’s national relevance has been severely diminished.

Lessons for Voters and Politicians

AAP’s story is a textbook case of what happens when a party built on anti-corruption rhetoric succumbs to the same sins it once condemned. It exploited the genuine frustration of the 2010s middle class and aspirational voters, only to deliver theatrics, internal dictatorship, and questionable governance in return. If external influences helped accelerate its rise, the eventual fall shows that Indian voters and institutions ultimately prioritize accountability over imported narratives. Indian voters have shown maturity. They rewarded AAP when it felt fresh; they punished it when the mask slipped. This should serve as a warning to all political parties: charisma and slogans have limits. Delivery, integrity, and humility matter in the long run.

As for Kejriwal’s future — with Delhi lost, legal cases lingering, and key leaders defecting, the party’s national project looks severely wounded. Punjab remains its last major bastion, but even there, performance will be tested in the coming years.

The systematic weakening of AAP carries a clear message: In Indian democracy, no one is untouchable. Parties that forget they serve the people rather than their own messianic ambitions eventually pay the price — regardless of who may have helped them rise.
What comes next for the remnants of AAP? Can it reinvent itself as a credible regional force in Punjab, or will it fade into another footnote of Indian political history — a bright spark that burned out due to its own contradictions?
The coming years will tell. But one thing is certain: the “aam aadmi” deserves better than what AAP ultimately delivered.

The Current Iran Conflict - The No-Endgame Game!

The ongoing Iran conflict—whether we call it a limited war or something more escalating—isn’t entirely surprising in hindsight. The timing does raise eyebrows, as some argue the U.S. establishment, amid domestic controversies like the Epstein saga, might have escalated to divert public attention. That theory has a certain plausibility, but rather than dwelling on why the U.S. and Israel might have initiated or intensified hostilities, let’s shift perspective: What has driven Iran to pursue confrontation for decades? More intriguingly, what endgame do the Iranian mullahs envision, regardless of the war’s outcome?

The 1979 Islamic Revolution rested on two pillars: religious faith and deep-seated enmity toward the United States (and, by extension, Israel). The faith-based element, however irrational it may seem to outsiders, has historical precedents. Many countries in the Islamic world—especially those founded on religious zealotry—claim to uphold Islamic values and protect Muslims. Some, like Turkey, draw on imperial legacies. These nations often band together in forums like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to advance shared geopolitical and strategic interests against non-Islamic powers. Beneath the surface of religious fervor, however, most maintain pragmatic dealings with the wider world. Trade has no religion, and the non-Islamic world remains dominant. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and the UAE have thrived by adopting sound economic policies, attracting talent, and pursuing rational foreign relations. Even Turkey, despite its assertive Islamic rhetoric, aligns with NATO and sees itself as part of Europe.

Iran’s mullahs, however, chose a radically different path—one that has led straight to the current, seemingly unwinnable confrontation.

Iran’s leadership blends intense Shiite religious zealotry with a sense of historical destiny rooted in Iran’s pre-Islamic Persian heritage. (As an aside, Iran was a Sunni state till 17th century when it made a drastic shift towards Shiasm) While the ancient civilization boasts genuine achievements, the mullahs cannot credibly claim direct lineage to that glory. They selectively invoke the past while imposing their theocratic vision, positioning themselves as the ultimate protectors of Shiasm and—ambitiously—the rightful leaders of the entire Muslim world. Public bluster is one thing; making such delusions a core governing principle is another.

Shortly after the revolution, Iran plunged into an eight-year war with Iraq (1980–1988), costing perhaps a million lives with little territorial or strategic gain. One ironic outcome: Iran shed its role as a Western-aligned pawn under the Shah, while Iraq briefly became one. Meanwhile, Iran shifted to asymmetric warfare, building proxy networks in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and elsewhere. It funneled billions to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, stirring anti-Israel sentiment among non-Sunni populations to expand influence.

From a geopolitical standpoint, proxy meddling makes sense only if it yields tangible benefits—much like Western interventions often protect economic interests. But what has Iran realistically gained from endless anti-Israel rhetoric and support for militias? Slogans about “wiping Israel off the map” have produced little beyond reciprocal threats and sermons. Yet Tehran has persisted, seemingly convinced that such hostility would elevate it as the preeminent Islamic power and leader of the ummah.

This ambition to dominate the Islamic world by variety of Islamic zealots dates back centuries and has rarely succeeded. For Iran, it has backfired spectacularly, leading not to regional hegemony but to isolation, sanctions, and now direct military pressure. Decades of 'investment' evaporated in last three years since Hamas is decimated (along with 50,000 Palestinians!), Hizbollah already in ashes, Syria and Lebanon quickly overthrowing the Assads. The so called geo-strategy now in complete ruins. 

Iranian army has done a great job in countering initial US-Israeli onslaught by effectively closing the gulf passage. Iran, and we should tip our hat at their brilliant strategy, made this war everyone's business - anyone who uses petrol or LPG gas, is now 'at war' here. How long before US and Israel claim 'victory' and back down? A week more? Two weeks? 

The real tragedy falls on Iran’s common people, who endure economic hardship, repression, and the costs of perpetual conflict. Paradoxically, ongoing tensions often strengthen the regime’s grip: external threats justify internal crackdowns, rally nationalist support, and sustain the narrative of resistance against “arrogant powers.” The mullahs themselves live in luxury, insulated from the suffering they inflict.

The Epstein's Galaxy Of Filth!

Imagine this: Nobel laureates, presidents, billionaires, Harvard presidents, and royals all lining up to befriend a man already convicted as a sex offender. They partied on his island, flew on his plane, took his money, called him “Uncle Jeffrey.”

What the hell were they thinking?

The latest Epstein file dumps—millions of pages released in early 2026—lay it bare. And the only thing clearer than the depravity is the elite impunity staring back at us. This saga redefines exasperation.

We’re the ordinary people: non-billionaires, non-millionaires, barely graduated, no Nobels, no crowns, no black books. We no longer know what to feel. A galaxy of the ultra-wealthy, brilliant minds, and tycoons orbited a convicted pedophile. Money? Most had mountains of it. Did even the geniuses need his cash? Perhaps. But didn’t their rare intelligence equip them to spot the monster?

The Clinton Piece Fits Too Perfectly
Even without documents, common sense screamed Bill Clinton belonged in Epstein’s world—like two Lego bricks snapping together. The ties ran deeper. Clinton’s Global Initiative got nearly $1 million from Epstein for the launch of the initiative. Per Ghislaine Maxwell, she played critical role in setting up the foundation. To 'go above and beyond' it seems she even had an affair with Doug Band - top aide of Bill Clinton. Epstein even visited the White House multiple times. Clinton-era networks flowed into Obama’s administration; leftovers lingered in Democratic Party circles. Take Kathryn Ruemmler: Obama’s White House Counsel, later Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer. She stayed close to Epstein after his 2008 conviction, offering pro-bono advice on his sexual-assault charges. Emails show her thanking “Uncle Jeffrey” for luxury gifts—Hermès bags, spa days, flowers.

(Quick aside: Is “Uncle” the new Gen-Z code for “Daddy”? Maybe we should ask Kethryn about legality of these terms!)

The Banks That Still Cash the Checks
JP Morgan allegedly polished Epstein’s image and possibly laundered funds—yet consequences remain light (settlements in 2023, other scrutiny ongoing). Goldman Sachs—famous for blurring public-private lines—backed Ruemmler until the pressure became a “distraction.” They preferred keeping someone who aided a convicted pedophile over finding a replacement. Now, JP Morgan’s revenue nears $280 billion; Goldman’s at $58 billion. They don’t care about public scorn. Money flowed before, during, and after conviction—and still flows long after Epstein’s death. Clinton? Untouchable. Accused of worse, elected president, weathered every storm. This is a teacup tempest for him—his duck’s-back skin has seen it all.

Academia’s Shameful Blind Spot
Some patterns make grim sense: Clinton’s womanizing history, banks’ ethical sleaze (Goldman’s 2008 crisis role). But Larry Summers? Towering economist, ex-Treasury Secretary, ex-Harvard president—what did he need from Epstein that his brilliance couldn’t supply? (How great was Larry summers? - at the age of 28 he became the youngest tenured professor in Harvard's history.) Yet he courted favor eagerly, fawning over him in the photo below. . Noam Chomsky—fierce power critic, one of the sharpest minds alive—sought Epstein’s help for a “purely technical” estate arrangement for his late wife. Really? No one in MIT’s circle, Harvard’s backyard, or New York’s intellectuals sufficed? Of course, Summer and Chomsky are in an august company when it comes to snuggling with Epstein. There are  mathematicians, linguists, physicists, geneticists—stayed close post-2008. They all pleaded remorse when confronted with initial list of documents. But as more deluge followed, it was clear that these people knowingly continued their close contact with Epstein. What could be their defense for this laps in judgement? “Nerds miss social cues” (dubious). Or “science needs funding—we overlooked the rest” (worse). Funding scarcity is eternal; it never justified giggling with a predator. For the love of god, please don’t drag science into your moral excuses. In Epstein they saw money, fame and contacts. They saw their vanity and ego getting massaged - literally and figuratively. None of them cared for morality and ethics. They probably never thought they will be held accoutable. Why would they?

The Hidden Elite Economy
Lust for attractive—and underage—women was one draw (unless you’re Prince Andrew, where lust seems the whole story). The rest? They are masters of a shadow economy where only uber-elites are the members and the favors is the table setters and women are merely a currency. None of these powerfuls ever imagined leaks. If billions and titles don't buy discernment, what does?If everyone’s naked in the pool, shame dissolves.

But the rest of us aren’t in that pool. What Do We Learn? Painfully Little. None of these A-'listers' will face real punishment. Their PR machines will spin like a washing machine, delivering either faded narrative or cleaner images. Forget about punishments, their lifestyles won’t see a dent worth a cent. They’ll reconvene at Davos, Clinton initiatives, the next elite forum—trading more power and wealth.

The convicted, the accused, the complicit will continue to be the most powerful people on earth, wielding outsized control over our lives. The file releases were like opening of a wormhole, allowing us us a rare, unfiltered glimpse into elite worlds' debauchery and ethical decay. Once every page is out, we’ll know even more—but knowing changes almost nothing on its own.

They keep ruling.

We keep watching, exasperated and angry.

NBA - Home Of Basketball or Of Basketball Betting?

The NBA ship is lately hitting the choppy waters. The betting scandal that rocked the league a few months ago was quietly swept under the rug, with only a handful of arrests made so far. The federal investigation is still ongoing, and more indictments are expected. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shed what appeared to be crocodile tears over the controversy, offering a feeble defense of the league’s internal probe—which somehow missed the blazing inferno even as the house burned down. The NBA had investigated certain players a couple of years earlier and cleared them of any wrongdoing. Yet those same players, along with a prominent coach, were later indicted by federal authorities for the very schemes the league had supposedly scrutinized. Silver’s excuse was laughable: He claimed the NBA lacks the sophistication and subpoena power of federal investigators, leading to a “clean chit” for the suspects. Or was it simply that the league didn’t care about rooting out betting irregularities, as long as it didn’t derail their push for legalized gambling?

Betting has plagued professional sports since their modern inception. It’s a vice that never remains contained, which is why gambling is banned in much of the world—or, where permitted, heavily taxed. It draws in shady operators, increasing the odds of match-fixing and corruption. In early 20th-century English football betting was rampant, fueling scandals that tarnished the game. After all, who insists that sports or athletes must be paragons of ethics? It’s entertainment, proponents argue—as long as fans are thrilled, why peek behind the curtain at how the sausage is made? There are countless justifications for legalizing betting: Fixing is outlawed, patterns can be monitored, and government or third-party watchdogs can sniff out culprits. Sure, but can these safeguards be foolproof 100% of the time? If not, what slips through the cracks? How does it skew games or entire seasons? These are unknown unknowns, and sports can’t afford them. Without transparency, a league risks losing its popularity—or worse, its legitimacy. Consider the difference: WWE is wildly popular, but is it seen as legitimate? Does the NBA aspire to be a spectacle or a sport of integrity?

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been a vocal advocate for sports betting on league games. In 2018, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling, the NBA eagerly embraced legalized wagering. The league was already surging in popularity (and still is), with revenue streams—especially lucrative TV deals—pouring in billions. But greed knows no bounds. Team ownership was shifting, with valuations skyrocketing: Franchises once sold for hundreds of millions were now fetching billions. This attracted ultra-wealthy owners fixated on maximizing profits. Silver and these moguls formed a perfect storm, steering the NBA into murky waters where once-shady practices could be whitewashed as legitimate. The league has faced referee-fixing before—the 2007 Tim Donaghy scandal exposed how fragile the game’s integrity is, with countless variables ripe for exploitation. More recently, a Miami Heat security guard was convicted for stealing and selling worn jerseys of stars like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, pocketing hundreds of thousands in the black market. Was that his only hustle? Or did he also leak insider info—like player rotations—for spot bets? We may never know, but the question will always linger.

The NBA urges us to trust them, touting their detection systems for players potentially throwing games. Another common refrain: Athletes earn so much that the risks of betting far outweigh the rewards. Yet both arguments crumbled in recent years, as millionaire players and coaches were indicted anyway. What if those caught argue that if the league profits from betting, why can’t they?

Baseball’s steroid scandal in the early 2000s dealt a devastating blow to its popularity and viewership. It took nearly two decades for the sport to rebound—and even then, interest hasn’t fully recovered. Perhaps tastes have shifted, but it’s undeniable that the integrity crisis left permanent scars. When trust erodes, everything else becomes irrelevant. In its insatiable quest for revenue, the NBA is barreling toward a similar abyss—one that’s bad for the game, the players, and the fans. Does the league care enough about basketball’s soul to pump the brakes?

'Dhurandhar' Dhamaal - A Hindi Movie Masterpiece!

I began this final blog of the year planning to write about Rahul Gandhi and his decision to skip parliament. Honestly, I felt uninspired by the topic. However, after watching the Hindi movie 'Dhurandhar' yesterday, my entire perspective shifted. 'Dhurandhar' is a gripping political thriller that explores the intricate ties between terrorism, politics, and intelligence operations in India. The film struck a deep chord with me, evoking a sense of urgency and concern about the political landscape. Its powerful storytelling and raw depiction of events left me both moved and alarmed. It made me reflect on the stark realities of political decisions and reinforced my resolve not to vote for Rahul Gandhi or the Congress Party. How did we even survive the Manmohan Singh era?

The Plotline:

The plotline was not easy to present. The time period spans over a decade, and the movie covers some of the most bloody and inhumane acts of barbarity against India, including events inspired by the actual Kandahar hijacking and the gruesome 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The film also imagines mafia violence happening in Karachi intertwined with these occurrences. These events are woven into the perspective of a fictional Indian undercover operative who has deeply embedded himself into the unholy nexus of ISI, the Karachi underworld, and corrupt Indian politicians (at least, one of those politicians' names rhymes with 'findambaram'). This complex task was masterfully handled by Aditya Dhar, who directed and co-wrote the movie. As Indian political will steels up, Indian intelligence devises a desperate plan to safeguard its innocent civilians. Agencies plant Indian undercover operatives and set a long-term plan in motion. The film’s second part is already much anticipated.

Why does it work?

Simply put, the movie is outstanding. It’s subtle at times, but it goes all out during some fight scenes. While it has all the elements of a typical Hindi masala film, the filmmakers respect the audience’s intelligence. The script is layered but always clear. The violence is graphic, but it feels necessary. The story is based on real events, and I believe the actual events were even more brutal. Some critics quickly labeled the film as propaganda. I hadn’t heard much about it before the first trailer, but after seeing the backlash from certain groups, I suspected it would be impressive. If showing the harsh reality is propaganda, then so be it. The film succeeds both as a movie and in its message. It entertains while also highlighting the ongoing threat of Islamic religious extremism and the lack of political will to protect innocent people at the time. Particularly, the events of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and the 2001 Parliament attack were skillfully shown. The usage of real-life footage, the humanization of innocents, as well as the security personnel who were killed, using real audio of a Pakistani handler directing terrorists in Mumbai after watching utterly shameful coverage of Indian media (ahem...the name that rhymes with ‘Darkha’!) cuts too deep. The jubilation shown by the perpetrators shows how the anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment runs deeply within Pakistan. Kudos to Aditya Dhar for creating maximum impact on the audience.

The acting is excellent. Ranvir Sing combines star power with real talent. His presence is strong, and his expressions are powerful, especially in scenes where he regrets not being able to prevent the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The supporting cast is also impressive. Akshay Khanna deserves all the praise he’s getting. I was especially struck by Rakesh Bedi’s performance as a corrupt politician—it was a standout. The slimness of a politician is succinctly portrayed. I hope Rakesh Bedi wins some awards for it.

The movie could have been at least half an hour shorter. The love angle, though critical to the plotline, could have been cut a bit. The violent last fight was a bit unbelievable, especially since the movie, till then, had shown the violence quite masterfully. Sanjay Dutt's entry and his overall presence is bit distracting. His character is important and Sanjay Dutt does fit the role but somehow the impact wasn't as much as it should have been. On the Indian side, the intelligence apparatus could have been shown beyond Ajit Doval’s presence. Ajit Doval was (and is) critical to Indian intelligence, but I am sure there were individuals who played their role. The audience would have loved to know about them. Perhaps that will come in the second part.

Political implications: 

The movie draws on real events, such as the Kandahar hijacking during the Vajpayee government era. Then the series of bomb blasts and ghastly 26/11 Mumbai attack under Manmohan Singh (i.e., Sonia) era. The lack of political will to stand up to Islamic terrorism of the Vajpayee era quickly descended into the utterly corrupt politics of the Manmohan Singh era, leading to multiple terrorist attacks in India going completely unanswered by the government. The Manmohan Singh era, especially, was utterly hopeless and spineless. Internal Muslim appeasement vote bank politics actively interfered with India’s need to stand up to the Pakistani Islamic terrorism state machinery. Hundreds of lives were lost to the politics of Sonias, Digvijay, and Chidambarams of the ruling junta. How many more lives of the Indian armed forces or of Indian intelligence were lost to these anti-national politicians? We may never know. I just hope India never elects that political party or ever entertains the dangerous buffoonery of Rahul Gandhi. I generally disliked them for their dynastic incompetence and a track record of family-first, India-second politics. The film shows the actual events that tell me that I never want to vote for Congress or I never want Congress to ever come to power because these people will not think twice before handing over the country to Pakistan or to China if the price is right. It’s remarkable that the country survived the Manmohan Singh era as well as it did.

The job of any movie is to entertain first. If a filmmaker wants to send a message to society or highlight something critical to it, they have to do so only through the lens of entertainment. Balancing a message with entertainment is not easy. Dhurandhar is a rare Hindi movie that pulls this off successfully, and for that, the entire crew deserves great appreciation. It's worthwhile to consider how other Hindi films like 'Sarfarosh' and 'Border' have similarly managed this balance, delivering strong social messages while engaging the audience. Dhurandhar is certainly a worthy successor to such movies.