Reeling Tales

On International Yoga Day, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi,  senior Union ministers, and leaders across various states were performing yoga and taking deep breaths in and out, there was perhaps one minister in the Modi cabinet who, despite his best efforts, could not breathe easy at all. On 21 June, as ministers across the country used yoga to relax their bodies and calm their minds, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was likely dealing with an entirely different kind of pressure. The reason is simple. Following the massive controversy surrounding the alleged NEET paper leak in 2024, both the Education Minister and his ministry came under intense scrutiny. As a result, ensuring that this year's examination process remained secure became one of the government's biggest challenges. To prevent any repetition of past controversies, extensive arrangements were reportedly put in place. Paper setters, translators, and examiners were said to have been kept isolated from the...

The Marathi language row in Maharashtra has reignited political tensions, communal anxieties, and regional identity issues — all against the backdrop of the upcoming BMC elections and a sensitive linguistic landscape. The row started after a shocking incident in Bhayander, Thane, where a food stall owner was beaten by activists allegedly linked to the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for not speaking in Marathi. A video of the attack went viral, showing the accused, wearing MNS scarves, confronted the vendor and slapped him after he responded in Hindi. The FIR, registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, mentioned ''unidentified persons'', and despite the viral video, the accused were released on bail within hours since the charges were non-cognizable. MNS workers have also been putting pressure on businesses and banks to use Marathi in signage and transactions. The controversy escalated further when Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former MP R...

Around the world, drama in politics have long been considered as a tool for political gain. Whether it's a dramatic walkout, an angry thump on the desk, or tearing up a document in full public view, political leaders have often turn to these symbolic acts to make their stance clear. These moments frequently dominate headlines, drawing public attention not only to the legislation in question but also to the emotion and urgency behind the protest. Tearing a bill, in particular, has become a powerful gesture which is visually disruptive, emotionally charged, and hard to ignore. From New Zealand’s Parliament to the campaign stages of India, this form of dissent has found its way into political arena and parties vie it a better option to gain attention. While some see it as mere drama, others view it as necessary too and consider it as extremely rewarding. Episodes -- from Māori MPs breaking into a haka before the bill's debate, to Arvind Kejriwal shredding farm laws in Delhi's ...

"You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours" — this old saying perfectly captures the relationship between Pakistan's elected governments and its powerful military establishment. In a country where democratic institutions struggle for autonomy, and the military always dominates, mutual back-scratching isn’t just common -- it is the need of the hour. A perfect example is the recent elevation of General Asim Munir to the rare rank of Field Marshal. Constitutionally, such a move required cabinet approval and so it was granted. Critics argue that this was not just a ceremonial gesture but part of a larger unwritten deal. By approving Munir’s promotion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif showed its loyalty and in return, the military maintained its grip on security matters without overtly undermining the civilian order and presenting to the world a facade of thriving democracy. Why was Munir Elevated? Following the May 2025 India–Pakistan war, Munir was elevated (of course, outwardly ...

The same Wajahat Khan, who himself spewed venom against other religions, is the one whose complaint led the Kolkata Police to arrest Sharmistha Panoli from Gurugram in a hate speech case. Now, look at the approach of the Kolkata Police — if the alleged offender is a Hindu girl, and that too a student, the police can travel all the way from Bengal to Haryana to arrest her. But when it comes to Wajahat Khan, who is in Bengal itself, reports are now emerging that Wajahat is missing — meaning, the man has vanished from Kolkata city, and the police have no clue.  Perhaps this is because the man who filed complaints against others is himself facing serious allegations and has absconded, as there are complaints filed against him from three different places — Delhi, West Bengal, and Assam. In fact, Himanta Biswa Sarma himself has said that a complaint was filed against Wajahat in Guwahati, and Mr. Sarma will request the West Bengal Police to assist in his arrest. However, when a team of As...

Recently, during the launch of a 5,000-ton ship in North Korea, a mishap occurred while lowering it into the water. You might recall the reaction of North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un — furious with rage, he imprisoned several officials involved in the incident. Now, a similar sentiment has come from Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut, who compared the West Bengal government under Mamata Banerjee to the dictatorship of North Korea, saying, “Please don’t turn this into North Korea.” This comment came when Kangana was asked about social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who was arrested by West Bengal Police from Gurugram over a controversial statement.  Kangana responded,  “It is not right to harass someone in the name of law and order. When I had already apologized and deleted my post, it was still wrong to jail me, torture me, destroy my career, and question my character. This should not happen to any daughter.” She further added,  “I request the West Bengal governmen...

When India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission failed, you can imagine the emotional state of all ISRO scientists. It was a deeply disheartening moment — as if, despite putting in all their effort and betting everything they had, they were left with nothing. Who can forget that iconic moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced then-ISRO chief K. Sivan, as tears rolled down his face? Now, a similar mission failure from North Korea has caught global attention — but the reaction from its leader Kim Jong-un was drastically different. Recently, North Korea was launching its second massive 5,000-ton warship, celebrating the occasion with fireworks during the naval destroyer’s inauguration. However, during the ship’s descent into the water, a technical fault occurred — part of the ship broke, and it tilted to one side. Kim Jong-un was furious. His eyes reportedly turned red with anger, and he called the incident a case of “criminal negligence,” ordering the arrest of officials involved in the proj...

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who was at one point considered to be a sharp critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has of late changed his tone towards Modi. Once seen as one of his opponents, Tharoor has recently started praising Narendra Modi for his work. This was evident when the Prime Minister visited the USA and the visit was lauded by Mr. Tharoor. The general perception is that the reason behind this changed stance lies elsewhere. Nowadays, it is believed that Mr. Tharoor is not happy with his own party. If sources close to Mr. Shashi Tharoor are to be believed, he is being sidelined within the Congress party, and he has openly expressed his displeasure. Recently, Mr. Tharoor met Mr. Rahul Gandhi and came out of that meeting totally disgruntled. He has even said, “If my party does not need me, then I have other options too.” Actually, Mr. Tharoor wants an active role in the Congress party—either in a uniform or non-uniform capacity. In his meeting with Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Tharoor com...

Recently, comedian Kunal Kamra mocked Eknath Shinde, after which some individuals vandalized his office. Following this incident, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sanjay Raut, and Uddhav Thackeray came out in support of Kamra’s right to satire. However, there was a time when parts of Kangana Ranaut’s house were demolished by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray. At that time, Kunal Kamra himself had supported the demolition. What is most interesting is that after the demolition of her house, Kangana had predicted the downfall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government — and that prediction eventually came true.                                                     

Rashmika Mandanna, who once faced backlash from Modi critics for promoting the Atal Setu, has found herself embroiled in controversy once again. This time, the issue began with a statement from a Karnataka MLA, who claimed that Rashmika was invited to a film event, but she refused to attend. Following this claim, Rashmika’s team denied the allegations. On the other hand, the event organizers asserted they had solid proof that a formal invitation had indeed been sent to her. A new twist emerged when the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka made a statement. He said, “Take this either as a request or a warning — if the government stops granting shooting permissions, films will stop being made and the entire film industry will face a crisis.” He also added that he knows exactly “which nuts and bolts need tightening.” As soon as such sharp remarks surfaced from the opposition, a reaction from the BJP was inevitable. Actress Kangana Ranaut jumped into the controversy, saying, “We artists are ...