Anand Sahay

Opinion Writer; formerly Diplomatic Correspondent, The Hindu; Coordinating Editor, Asian Age and President, Press Club of India (2013-14 and 2019-20)

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

Setbacks Have Followed Since 2024, but INDIA Looks Ahead https://t.co/eZrhjMhXLq via @thewire_In

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

Great read
On Ways of the Elite

Baba Bharti's Fear Comes True in the RSS's Washing Machine Durbar https://t.co/d1f21xZGYv via @thewire_In

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

A very plausible early analysis on the Cockroaches June 6 mass protest in New Delhi. Shows fragility of the Modi regime's popuoarity, says Revati Laul, the social activist and fluent analyst.
The Cockroaches Have Passed The AAP Test https://t.co/fUusqwpKR9

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

This fascinating story of Reginald Lal Singh expands one's horizon. A great read: https://t.co/f4PuNVugEx

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

https://t.co/WZPB5k8JEb

[Priya Purohit @Priyaa_Purohit]

A CJP protester at Jantar Mantar said —

The people made a big mistake by electing a 4th-Pass PM.

The time has come to remove him. We don't want our children's future ruined by repeated paper leaks.

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

The worst, without question.

[Cockroache Janta Party @TheCockroachIND]

Dharmendra Pradhan is The Worst Education minister in Indian History...??

○ Yes, I agree

○ No, I disagree

Follow @TheCockroachIND and share your opinion clearly.

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

Well done. These young folk showed resoluteness today. Their resolve will now be tested by a government steeped in hubris. Its leaders have said: Ministers don't resign in a BJP government! No accountability. https://t.co/QPwa1wa0H9

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

The Cockroaches showed great ability. Massive protest at Jantar Mantar on 6 June in the blazing sun. But this hubris-filled govt will test their resolve. Ministers don't resign in a BJP govt, top regime boys have said. No Hindu-Muslim, the youth said. Cool!

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

@Delhivery has let me down. For a small pack from Delhi, in Bangalore I received the msg "Out for Delivery" on May 31, June 1 and 2. It came on the 2nd at 8.15pm. I learnt from the carrier it was lying barely 10 minutes away all these days. Shocking!

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

https://t.co/o91hG9TgWA

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

Ek mahan Urdu ke kavi Bakr-id ke din utth gaye. Unki shaan mein likha gaya yeh samvedansheel aur shaandaar lekh. Zaroor padhein:
बशीर बद्र: कल चांद उन्हें साथ ले गया – केयूर पाठक https://t.co/hLsuLeYUAy via @समता मार्ग

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

Yogendra Yadav calls a spade. Even in the medium term, India's apex court will have much backpedalling to do. The course of true justice never did run smooth, to take liberties with Shakespeare.

[Yogendra Yadav @_YogendraYadav]

I did not to go to the Supreme Court today to hear its order in the SIR case.
As a litigant in this case, and as someone who was given the honour of addressing the court, I should have been hopeful, anxious, or at least curious. I was not. The case was decided long ago. We were only waiting for the transcript and its fine print.

The course of this case was settled in August last year. Having heard arguments against SIR for three days, the court moved away from examining the constitutionality of SIR and effectively converted itself into a Consumer Forum, focused on grievance redressal and arbitration, rather than constitutional principles.

The case was effectively decided when the apex court allowed the ECI to rush through the Bihar elections without first deciding the matter, and without requiring the ECI to rectify even the most glaring defects in post-SIR rolls.

There was little left of this case once the ECI proceeded with the second and then the third phase of SIR, while the Hon’ble Court leisurely heard arguments about its constitutionality. SIR had become a fait accompli. Any remaining doubt disappeared when the Hon’ble judges observed in open court that no one would be allowed to obstruct SIR.

The final nail in the coffin of this petition was hammered during the hearing of another petition before the same Bench, when an Hon’ble judge remarked that millions denied their right to vote need not fret, since they could vote in the next election. At that moment, the court abdicated its constitutional responsibility.

Shorn of legalese, the simple truth is that the highest court of a constitutional democracy has already authorised the disenfranchisement of millions of citizens — at least 59 million so far, could go up eventually to 100 million.

It was inconceivable that the court would now declare SIR unconstitutional and annul all post-SIR elections. The lawyers were waiting for the the exact legal reasoning deployed to arrive at a conclusion that was already known. Such legal gymnastics did not interest me. Some friends were looking for some crumbs in the hope that the court might at least wish to save face, if not save the voters. Eventually that too did not happen. Polite noises apart, the Court has handed over a carteblac to the ECI to do what it pleases with the voters list.

ADR vs Union of India (2026) is to our times what ADM Jabalpur vs Shivkant
Shukla (1976) was to the previous assault on our democracy. We must hope that the SIR judgment does not mark the crumbling of the last constitutional wall, as ADM Jabalpur once did. We must believe that one day this constitutional abdication by the guardian of the Constitution will be recognised for what it was. And reversed.

Jai Hind!

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

My recent article on the travails of the Comgress

https://t.co/Ftu9wIXUk3

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

What the Bhojshala Verdict and ASI Survey Leave Unanswered https://t.co/4CPhr4Qs0d

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

China Showed Many Countries the Way to Economic Progress, But That Model Is Now Past Its Prime https://t.co/rwGN0m1xcH via @thewire_In

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

The Myth of the 'Great Neglect': Recontextualising Nehru’s Primary Education Dilemma https://t.co/BJZawh5wXu via @thewire_In

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

Detailed exposition of the logic of deleting 100 million voters in India by Samar Harlnkar, a former editor of Hindustan Times.
It's never too late to be aware.
https://t.co/fb4WZbNl2q

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

Very powerful words. The home truth. An eye-opener of an article:

President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind writes: Dear Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, we take you at your word
https://t.co/AqG3LpAe3l

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

In Chennai, Governor Arlekar is playing dirty tricks in not inviting Vijay to prove his majority in the Assembly. After all, Vijay's party TVK has the most seats, way ahead of others. He is only just short of majority. Governor playing Centre's game?

[Anand Sahay @Navik_07]

The Supreme Court needs a long view mirror to look within, do a MRI of its conscience.

[Pratik Sinha @free_thinker]

In 49 seats in Bengal, under-adjudication voters exceeded win margins.

This assume significance in view of Justice Joymalya Bagchi's observation that if no. of deleted voters was higher than margins, the court would have to apply its mind. @OishaniB_

https://t.co/d5SoWg0Vrb