ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Shehzad Poonawalla is a well-known face of the BJP on TV debates, with fiery puns and takes on the Congress. His debates often go viral on social media. Aditi Singh is a BJP MLA from Raebareli Sadar, the bastion of Sonia Gandhi, which now stands vacated as the former Congress president has moved to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Aditi and Shehzad get candid and share why they switched to the BJP from the Congress, and whether anyone from the Gandhi family tried to stop them. Furthermore, both talk extensively about the functioning of Congress and the BJP, and how internal democracy works.Without mincing words, Shehzad takes on the Congress, stating that everyone caters to 'one parivar' in Congress and the party never gives chances to grassroots workers. Instead, it chooses people who are and were close to the Gandhi-Nehru Family.Aditi Singh also makes a sensational claim that Rahul Gandhi was aloof to the situation of the U.P when she was a Congress MLA. Aditi cites Congress' 'anti-Hindu' stance as one of the reasons to quit the party. She also claimed that the Congress high command only shows up in Amethi and Rai Bareli at the time of elections and doesn't want to hit the ground.Shehzad also answers the most sought-after question: why the ruling BJP doesn't have a single Muslim MP. Both of them also discuss their future prospects in politics.

In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we bring you a perfect mix of humour, masti, and unapologetic conversation. Joining us are Anand Ranganathan, an author, scientist, and social commentator, alongside Ranvir Shorey, a former VJ who works in the Hindi film industry and is known for his candid political commentary on social media.From the vibrant realms of Bollywood to the corridors of politics, they fearlessly explore a wide array of topics. Ranvir Shorey provides insights into his association with the Aam Aadmi Party back in 2014. Ranvir shares his experience of 'Sacred Games' and 'Khosla ka Ghosla', and also sheds light on his latest projects ‘Sunflower2 ’ & ‘Godhra’.Anand and Ranvir also delve into PR 'campaigns' by actors and their role in supporting movements such as the JNU protests. They share their views on the evolving landscape of OTT platforms.Additionally, Anand Ranganathan discusses his criminal contempt case, which was dismissed by the Delhi High court.

Just ahead of the mega 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, the Centre has notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed by Parliament four years ago. Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserts that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled another commitment after Article 370 and Triple Talaq. The opposition labels the CAA as 'anti-Muslim' and 'unconstitutional'.The CAA facilitates the process for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who entered India legally or illegally before Dec 31, 2014, and have resided in the country for at least five years, to obtain Indian citizenship.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dispels all 'confusion' and 'misconceptions' surrounding the CAA. Home minister asserts that CAA seeks to offer refuge to persecuted religious minorities from neighboring countries and does not impact the citizenship status of Indian Muslims.HM Shah also explains why the CAA excludes Muslims, arguing that this move is a gesture to protect those fleeing religious persecution, while highlighting that Muslims from neighboring countries can still pursue Indian citizenship through other legal avenues.HM Shah explains why the implementation of CAA does not extend to tribal areas in the Northeast, stating that the tribal composition will remain unaffected by the CAA. Additionally, he clarifies all confusion surrounding the relationship between CAA and NRC.

After two years of political turmoil and an economic crisis, Pakistan held elections on 8th Feb 2024. As the results were being announced, accusations surfaced that the Pakistan military had assisted the coalition led by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N in winning the polls. This unfolded amidst former Prime Minister Imran Khan languishing in jail and being barred from contesting polls, with his party symbol, 'the bat,' also banned.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, held at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 2024, experts delved into the question: Can Pakistan emerge from its economic crisis, or is it on the brink of becoming a failed state? The discussion also explored the continued influence of the Pakistan army in politics.The expert panel for the "Pakistan Poser" session includes Geoffrey Van Orden, Former Member of the European Parliament; Leslie Vinjamuri, Director of the US and Americas Programme at Chatham House and Professor of International Relations at SOAS University of London, UK; and Ajay Bisaria, Distinguished Fellow at ORF and ex-envoy to Pakistan and Canada.Following the swearing-in of Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan's 24th Prime Minister, the question arises: Can a change in leadership help the country overcome its crisis? How Pakistan's dysfunction poses risks to its neighbors and the global community. The episode also raises questions about the Anglo-American alliance's continued interest in Pakistan or if patience with Islamabad has run out.

Rajat Sharma has been a prominent figure in Indian media and journalism for the last three decades. He is best known for his show, 'Aap Ki Adalat', 'Aaj Ki Baat’ and his role as the Editor-in-Chief of India TV. Before joining television, he was the Editor of Onlooker, Sunday Observer, and The Daily. He pursued higher studies at SRCC and was part of ABVP. In 1977, he was elected as General Secretary of the Delhi University Students Union.In the latest episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Rajat Sharma talks about his childhood, family background, and his journey to the top. He also delves deep into his friendship of over 45 years with Arun Jaitley and recalls their first meeting at Delhi University. He also discusses the JP Movement and his arrest during the emergency in 1975, explaining why he chose journalism over politics. Rajat Sharma further shares insights into his relationships with former Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, P.V Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He also sheds light on his hit show, "Aap Ki Adalat," and how its format was developed. Additionally, he addresses allegations of being labeled as 'Godi media.'

The world is currently witnessing two major war fronts: one between Israel and Hamas and the other involving Russia and Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine has entered its third year, with no potential 'stalemate' or breakthrough in sight. In the aftermath of Hamas-led attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, intense bombing and ground campaigns in Gaza have ensued. U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed hope for a ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, held at Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 2024, two sessions were featured: "24 Months: Deconstructing the Battlefield" and "Dousing the Flames: A New Framework against Terror." In this Raisina IdeasPod with ANI, the expert panel on the Israel-Hamas war war comprises Max Abrahms, Professor at Northeastern University in the USA, Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF, and Dr. Oshrit Birvadker, Foreign Policy Expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security.The second session, focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war, includes Alexander Gabuev, Director at Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, Nico Lange, Senior Fellow at Munich Security Conference, and Theresa Fallon, Founder and Director of the Centre for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies (CREAS). The experts explore key questions such as: Does the West-East narrative battle impact facts on the ground? Can we improve intelligence sharing about the global networks of finance and personnel that support such actors? Is the Global War on Terror over, or did it never end? To what extent do ground realities align with Moscow's and Kyiv's economic positions and global support?

Atul Keshap is a former U.S. diplomat, now serving as the president of the of the U.S-India Business Council. He also serves as the senior vice president at U.S chamber of commerce. He also held the position of Chargé d'affaires of the United States mission to India.In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Atul Keshap shares his experience as a U.S. diplomat to India and recalls the time he spent in India.He discusses the circumstances surrounding his resignation, including his meeting with RSS Chief, and his decision to step away from diplomacy.Being a close observer of India-U.S. relations, Keshap shares his insights to growing India-U.S. ties, how the United States perceives India as a potential ally and areas where the relationship can further develop.He shares the backroom events during the India-U.S. Nuclear deal, highlighting former U.S. President George W. Bush's early support for India.Keshap also talks about his Indian roots and how he embraces Hinduism.

Prem Chopra was born into a Hindu Punjabi family in Lahore in 1935. Following the partition of India, his family relocated to Shimla, where he was raised. Despite his father's aspirations for him to become a doctor or an IAS officer, he embarked on a journey to become an actor. He was a trailblazer in introducing the concept of handsome villains, deviating from the stereotype of venom-spewing characters with expected dialogues.After completing his graduation, he moved to Mumbai and initially worked in the circulation department of The Times of India. He made his debut film in the Punjabi movie 'Chaudhary Karnail Singh' which won the National Film Award for Best Punjabi Film in 1961.Prem Chopra was a prominent villain in Hindi films, peaking from 1967 to 1994. During the '70s, he secured notable villainous roles, alongside actors like Sujith Kumar and Ranjeet.In the recent ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Prem Chopra reflects on his experiences during the partition days and how he ventured into theatre after moving to Shimla. He shares insights into landing his first hit movie and discusses why he gravitated towards villain roles. Being in the industry for six decades, Prem Chopra took on fewer villainous roles post-1999, transitioning to positive character roles and increasingly received such roles from 2005 onwards. However, his screen time in films was reduced after 2005. He recently appeared in Ranbir Kapoor's film 'Animal.'

Richard R. Verma is the first American of Indian descent to serve as the US Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017. He currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management & Resources. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served on active duty as a Judge Advocate. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Richard R. Verma discusses the aim behind his visit to India and shares the cooperation between the two states for strengthening India-US ties. He also talks about his experience in India during his tenure as the US Ambassador to India.Additionally, he discusses pro-Khalistani protests in the U.S. and how Washington D.C. is planning to deal with them. He also speaks on defence relations between India and the US, calling the relationship robust and as diverse as it is today. He also talks about the US defence relationship with Pakistan.

Samir Saran is the President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India’s premier think tank headquartered in New Delhi. Saran is a well-known figure in the field of diplomacy and serves as the curator of the Raisina Dialogue. He has authored four books, focusing his research on global governance, climate and energy policy, technology policy, and India’s foreign relations.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses India's role in shaping a new world order and emphasises why India's success matters globally, not just to Indians. Saran also shares insights into Raisina Dialogues 2024, India’s annual flagship platform on geopolitics and geo-economics, and provides reasons behind its inception.Samir extensively talks about India-U.S. relations and their implications for New Delhi, particularly in the event of Donald Trump returning to power. Without hesitation, he notes that there is a growing sense in the West that Prime Minister Modi will secure a third consecutive term.He also delves into the topic of the Ram Mandir and its impact not only in India but around the world. Samir criticises Western media for harbouring preconceived notions about India and consistently portraying it in a negative light.