ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Pankaj Saran is a well-known figure in Indian diplomacy, having served as Ambassador to Russia and Bangladesh, Deputy National Security Adviser, and in the PMO under Dr Manmohan Singh. He has also been posted at the Indian mission in Washington, D.C.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about Trump’s tariffs on India. He explains how India can protect its interests and sovereignty. He shares his views on the Russia–Ukraine war and the chances of a ceasefire. Ambassador speaks about attacks on Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh. He also talks about the future of democracy in Dhaka. Furthermore, He explains the role of the NSA and Deputy NSA in the matter of National Security.Audio Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction00:46 – Trump–Putin Alaska Meet07:19 – Why Russia–Ukraine Ceasefire Matters to Trump09:02 – Future of Indo–US Friendship11:27 – Why India Matters to Europe13:12 – How India Should Deal with Trump16:08 – India & America’s War Policy21:02 – Why Target India Over Russian Oil?26:49 – Munir’s Nuke Threat to India from the US35:10 – US Growing Closer to Pakistan42:13 – China’s Stance on Munir’s US Trips46:08 – Russia–India Ties50:36 – Where Does the Quad Stand?57:11 – Hasina’s Exit & the Bangladesh Crisis01:04:38 – Undoing Hasina’s Pakistan Policy01:06:22 – Life as Ambassador vs Deputy NSA01:07:57 – Diplomats in the US vs India01:09:54 – Ajit Doval & Brijesh Mishra as NSAs01:12:24 – Do NSAs Disagree with the PM?01:14:07 – 26/11’s Impact on Manmohan Singh01:18:12 – Why 26/11 Didn’t Change India’s Security Stance01:23:13 – PM–NSA Chemistry and Its Impact

Sanjaya Baru is a former journalist, author, political commentator, policy analyst, and was media advisor to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. His book 'The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh' created quite a stir in India’s political circles. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about his latest book, 'Secession of the Successful: The Flight Out of New India'. The book explores why wealthy Indians are moving abroad, the brain drain that has been taking place since the late 1990s, and the consequences this could have for India’s future.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Reverse Migration of Overseas Indians05:28 – Phases of Migration from India08:12 – Policy Lessons for India11:23 – Brain Drain in India16:32 – Push for Return Migration24:52 – Indian Industries Investing Abroad32:34 – NRIs Returning to India35:17 – Global Capability Centres in India40:13 – Road to Viksit Bharat 204750:56 – Overseas Voters Return to India58:22 – PM Modi’s Diaspora Shift1:02:16 – Media Perception of ANI1:12:05 – Taxes Behind Rich Leaving India?1:14:45 – Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Views on Diaspora1:20:08 – Anecdotes on Dr. Manmohan Singh

Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen is the Ambassador of Denmark to India. Ambassador Kristensen has previously served as Denmark’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and ASEAN from 2017 to 2020.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Kristensen speaks about supporting a rules-based order rather than one where big powers dictate to smaller nations, while addressing Trump’s 50% tariff on India.He reaffirms the EU’s stance against support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, while commenting on India’s continued oil imports from Russia.He also explained that negotiations on the EU-India trade deal are in their final stagesTimestamps00:00 – Introduction00:57 – Trump’s ‘Dead Economy’ Remark01:42 – EU-India Trade Deal04:17 – Lessons for India from US-EU Trade Deal05:48 – EU Exporters & India’s Tariff Barriers10:40 – EU’s Stand on India-Russia Oil Trade14:51 – China-Russia Tues15:50 – Denmark’s Support for Op Sindoor18:09 – Green Strategic Partnership22:33 – Danish Companies’ Investment in India26:46 – India as Counterbalance to China in Asia28:40 – Denmark’s View on India’s UNSC Bid30:32 – Ease of Doing Business in India34:54 – India-Denmark Strategic Ties38:39 – Denmark’s Role in Ganga Rejuvenation44:39 – Ambassador’s Bucket List for India

Priya Kaushal is a forensic psychologist who supported the legal defense team of Lt Col. Prasad Purohit with forensic and procedural insights.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she exposes critical lapses in the 2008 Malegaon blast investigation. She highlights the challenges of evidence, justice, and coercion in the case.She explains how forensic protocols were ignored at a heavily contaminated crime scene, raising serious concerns about investigative bias, concerns later acknowledged by the court.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction02:06 – Forensic Psychology & Lt Col Purohit’s Case06:17 – RDX Analysis in the Malegaon Blast17:18 – Where Was the RDX Stored?23:34 – How Lt Col Purohit Was Cleared26:56 – Who Contaminated the Evidence?36:19 – Clean Component vs RDX42:45 – RDX & Bomb-Making44:36 – Why Not a Suicide Blast?49:36 – The RDX Assumption in Blasts52:37 – Blast Bike Linked to Sadhvi Pragya?1:02:28 – Forensics vs Eyewitnesses1:03:32 – Witness Flip After Government Change1:06:53 – Grey Areas in Military Conduct1:09:02 – Approach to Purohit’s Innocence1:10:40 – Alleged Torture of Lt Col Purohit1:13:19 – Support for the Innocent1:15:59 – Psychopathology in the Lt Col Purohit Case1:22:48 – Voice Matches1:22:53 – Technology Used in Voice Identification1:26:17 – Was the Analyst Untrained?1:28:41 – Media Trial in the Malegaon Case1:30:49 – Similar Cases to the Malegaon Case1:36:32 – Psychopathic Mindset Explained1:40:29 – Mental Fatigue & Burnout1:45:07 – Psychology of Mass Murderers1:46:25 – Can Narco Tests Be Defeated?1:51:04 – Mental State After Acquittal1:54:02 – Who Really Did the Malegaon Blast?

Suhel Seth is a brand guru, author, columnist, and television pundit who can speak without pause on almost any topic. Omesh Saigal is an IITian who joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1964. He has served at every level of governance, from Block Development Officer to Chief Secretary of Delhi and Secretary in the Central Government.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss the real reasons behind the crumbling infrastructure in Indian cities. Floods, traffic, garbage, and pollution have become the new normal. India’s crown jewels, Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, face these issues year after year.What needs to change? And how do images of waterlogged roads and piles of garbage harm the 'Brand India' image?00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Urban Apathy 08:16 – Lack of Urban Planning 16:17 – Bureaucracy & Urban Planning Gaps 20:44 – Media Coverage of Urban Issues 22:18 – Tech Impact on City Planning 25:19 – Infrastructure Gap in Metro Cities 26:49 – Bangalore’s Traffic Problem 30:20 – Environmental Damage in Hill Stations 33:44 – Influx of Migrants into Cities 35:54 – Community Action on Urban Problems 40:42 – Stray Dog Attacks 47:03 – Problem with RWAs 48:35 – Who’s Accountable for Urban Decay? 51:43 – Rahul & Trump’s Economy Jab 58:50 – New Wave of Emigration 1:02:47 – Stray Dog Care and Colony Policies

Ajeet Bharti is a YouTuber, author, and journalist known for his outspoken views on the BJP and its policies. Pradeep Bhandari is the national spokesperson of the BJP, a psephologist, and a former journalist.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the two discuss a common allegation: Is the BJP becoming the new Congress? They also discuss what the Modi government has achieved in the last 11 years, and whether life has actually become easier for India’s middle class.The conversation also touches on the upcoming Bihar elections, Rahul Gandhi’s political strategy, and the role of Prashant Kishor in Bihar's politics.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction00:42 – 11 Years of Modi Sarkar05:53 – Life Becomes Easier for the Middle Class?08:52 – BJP Too Dependent on Modi?10:10 – What Do BJP Supporters Feel Today?15:26 – Modi’s Political Momentum23:10 – PM Modi's Fan Base29:21 – BJP MPs & MLAs Missing on the Ground?32:22 – How BJP Handles Negative Feedback35:55 – When Police Came to Ajeet Bharti’s House43:15 – Rahul Gandhi’s Leadership52:02 – Kanhaiya Kumar and Bihar Elections55:00 – Modi vs Rahul: Who Connects More with the Public?1:08:16 – Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Resignation1:12:56 – Prashant Kishor’s Role in Bihar Polls1:21:36 – Bihar’s Migration and Debt Issues1:26:40 – Indore’s Poha-Jalebi & Swachh Bharat Success1:34:13 – Bond with Hometowns1:39:09 – Why the Youth Feel Disconnected from Politics

Samir Saran is the President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India’s leading think tank based in New Delhi. He is a well-known voice in the field of diplomacy and is also the curator of the Raisina Dialogue. Samir has written several books and focuses his research on global governance, climate policy, and India’s foreign relations.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he explains how India should deal with US President Donald Trump. He also talks about Operation Sindoor and why it doesn't matter if no country openly supported India.Samir shares why Pakistan continues to maintain strong ties with both the US and China. He also discusses what New Delhi needs to do to become a 10 trillion-dollar economy, including building strong trade ties with China, while staying firm and strategic at the border.He also reflects on how India’s foreign policy has changed over the last decade, and what the road ahead looks like.*Timestamps*00:00 – Introduction00:46 – Global Support for India During Op Sindoor14:22 – Op Sindoor Outreach With All-Party Delegations17:54 – Trump’s Transactional Approach19:56 – India and the Trump Administration21:51 – EU–India Trade Deal24:32 – Weaponisation of Trade32:36 – India’s Global South Outreach38:14 – When China Overtook India44:26 – China–Pakistan Relations50:26 – Russia–India–China Grouping54:59 – AI’s Economic Impact59:36 – Trump–Asim Munir Meet1:14:32 – Pressure on India Over Russian Oil1:17:02 – On His Book ‘GeoTechnoGraphy’

Ami Ganatra is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). Her books 'Mahabharata Unravelled' and 'Ramayana Unravelled' present the epics as they were originally written, without modern retellings or fictional twists. She explains their lessons and meanings in a clear, accessible manner, allowing readers of all backgrounds to understand and appreciate these ancient texts.In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ami Ganatra discusses the war lessons India can draw from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and how they resonate with modern military operations like Operation Sindoor. She explains how wars were fought in the epics, the importance of alliances, and also busts several myths surrounding the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Shri Ram.Timestamps00:00 – Coming Up01:36 – Introduction03:03 – Do Today’s Generation Know About the Ramayana?05:40 – Ramayana on TV vs Valmiki’s Ramayana09:44 – Is Ranbir Kapoor Fit to Play Lord Ram?14:10 – Why Do Actors Playing Lord Ram Face Backlash?15:49 – War Lessons from the Ramayana and Mahabharata26:55 – Ramcharitmanas Quote at Operation Sindoor Briefing32:52 – Why Alliances Mattered in Hindu Epics40:07 – Lessons from the Epics About Family Conflicts45:30 – Can There Be Peace After a War?47:13 – Aftermath of the Ramayana and Mahabharata01:03:54 – 'Agni Pariksha' for the Indian Armed Forces01:16:03 – Radhika Yadav Murder Case01:20:03 – When Maa Sita Gave Lord Ram His Own Agni Pariksha01:29:04 – How Can Future Wars Be Prevented?01:38:05 – The End of Fighting Doesn’t Mean the End of War01:40:10 – History vs Mythology

Pappu Yadav is an independent MP from Bihar’s Purnia. He has been elected to the Lok Sabha six times and has been active in politics since the 1990s. He spent 12 years in jail in the Ajit Sarkar murder case, but was later acquitted. In 2015, he launched his party, the Jan Adhikar Party, which was merged into the Congress in 2024. He is known for his ‘Robinhood’ image, often seen helping the underprivileged and giving financial aid to those in need.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pappu Yadav discusses his deep affection for the Congress party and explains why the party refuses to acknowledge his long-standing support. He defends the 'bahubali' tag often attached to him, claiming that many of the cases against him were politically motivated.He also shares his views on Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the issue of infiltration in Bihar, and his opinion on Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishor.00:00 – Introduction01:04 – Pappu Yadav joining Jan Suraaj?03:28 – Manmohan Singh's Tenure in UPA 207:31 – Family Background15:44 – Manmohan Singh and Indo-US Nuclear Deal19:26 – Congress and Jagjivan Ram24:40 – Cases Against Pappu Yadav30:47 – Doctors vs Pappu Yadav32:44 – Higher Education in Bihar36:22 – Remarks on Jinnah39:55 – 'Robinhood of Bihar'43:38 – Muslim-Yadav Equation in Bihar48:18 – 'Jungle Raj' Debate55:56 – Impact of Op Sindoor on 2025 Bihar Polls1:03:48 – Rising Crime Rate in Bihar1:12:38 – Congress Leadership in Bihar1:26:17 – AIMIM & Mahagathbandhan Talk1:28:17 – Denied Entry to Rahul's Van Row1:33:07 – Purulia Arms Drop Case1:35:41 – Snap Reaction Segment

Nishikant Dubey is a member of the BJP representing Godda constituency in the Lok Sabha. He is known for his fierce criticism of the opposition and his outspoken, no-nonsense style. In Parliament, he is seen as one of the most vocal and assertive voices from the BJP benches.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Nishikant Dubey discusses Prime Minister Modi’s succession plan and the role of the RSS in selecting the next BJP chief. He also addresses his controversial remarks about the Supreme Court and the “Patak Patak ke Maarenge” comment directed at the Thackeray brothers.The conversation also covers the Bihar voter list revision controversy, the Rohingya-Bangladeshi deportation drive, and his views on the Gandhi family.00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – Did Nehru Give CIA Access to an Indian Airbase? 04:37 – Revenge Against the Gandhi Family & Nehru? 06:29 – Did Russia Control Indian Print Media? 08:34 – Why the Deep State Doesn’t Work in India 15:11 – British Role in Operation Bluestar? 21:18 – "Raj-Uddhav Ko Patak Patak Ke Marenge..." 33:19 – "Muslim Commissioner" Controversy 38:23 – Bihar Voter Roll Revision Row 40:11 – Bangladeshi Infiltration in Bengal 46:30 – Mahua Moitra vs Nishikant Dubey 47:54 – Is BJP Targeting the Muslim Community? 53:01 – Will Muslims Vote for BJP? 57:27 – Friendship with Owaisi 58:34 – Ideological Rifts at Home 1:00:48 – Why He’s Called ‘Baba’ 1:02:28 – Who After Modi? 1:05:15 – RSS vs Modi–Shah Over BJP Chief 1:10:04 – Impact of 'Narender Surrender' Slogan 1:11:28 – Did Indira Make a Mistake by Creating Bangladesh? 1:14:26 – Why Indian-Origin CEOs Are Silent on Op Sindoor 1:15:54 – Inside the Op Sindoor Delegation 1:23:26 – Remarks Against the Supreme Court 1:27:09 – 4th Term in Lok Sabha 1:30:29 – Closing