ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

China's global influence has expanded rapidly, not only economically but also through its extensive networks of technology, and information dissemination, triggering street protests across the world, like Black Lives Matter in the US and pro-Palestine protests in Europe.This episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash was recorded at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 2024. The expert panel discusses how China's influence extends to regions where street protests have erupted over social justice issues or geopolitical tensions.The expert panel for this episode includes James Carafano, Vice President of Davis Institute for National Security & Foreign Policy, USA and Gladden Pappin, President of Hungarian Institute of International Affairs.The two foreign policy experts also discuss how international media by and large is also succeptible to these networks.

Rajnath Singh is serving as the 29th Defence Minister of India since 2019. He is also the Deputy Leader of the House of the BJP since May 30, 2019. Singh also held the post of BJP President from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2014. Additionally, He served as the 19th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 2000 to 2002.In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Rajnath Singh discusses the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls and whether the INDIA alliance will make any difference or not. The Defence Minister also addresses India’s relations with its neighbours, Pakistan and China, highlighting the ongoing border disputes.Rajnath Singh also became emotional recalling his experiences during the 1975 Emergency period when he was imprisoned for 18 months for voicing dissent. He mentions being denied bail to visit his mother, who was on her deathbed due to a brain haemorrhage.The Defence Minister expressed his belief in fostering good relations with Pakistan only if they take effective measures to combat terrorism, offering assistance to Islamabad in this regard. He also responds to reports suggesting India’s involvement in alleged plots to carry out assassinations on foreign soil, specifically in Pakistan and Canada.Rajnath Singh further reflects on his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, noting the challenges during a period when no Chief Minister was able to complete their term in the state of U.P

Ashwin Sanghi is among India’s highest-selling English fiction authors. He has written several bestsellers in the Bharat Series (including The Rozabal Line, Chanakya’s Chant, The Krishna Key, The Sialkot Saga, Keepers of the Kalachakra, The Vault of Vishnu, and The Magicians of Mazda) and two New York Times bestselling crime thrillers with James Patterson.He has been included by Forbes India in their Celebrity 100 and by The New Indian Express in their Culture Power List. He is also a winner of the Crossword Popular Choice Award 2012, the Atta Galatta Popular Choice Award 2018, and the Lit-O-Fest Literature Legend Award 2018.In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ashwin Sanghi explores the essence of Sanatana Dharma and its importance in promoting harmony in today's diverse world. He uncovers the stories of mythology and historical events, sharing insights that could resonate with people from all cultures and across generations.Ashwin also discusses the truth behind the Aryan Invasion theory and offers insights into the art of storytelling, emphasizing how to keep readers engaged. He candidly addresses the challenges he faces in publishing and reveals details about his upcoming project in the Bharat series and new Book 'Razor Sharp - A Kutta Kadam Thriller'

Sujan R. Chinoy is a former Indian diplomat with over 37 years of experience. He currently serves as the Director General at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA), India's top think-tank focusing on defense, security, and international relations, located in New Delhi. He also chaired the Think20 engagement group during India’s G20 Presidency.During his career, Ambassador Chinoy specialized in various diplomatic areas, including China, East Asia, the Asia-Pacific region, National Security, as well as the U.S. and Latin American region.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Sujan Chinoy provides insights into India's stance and its role in the crises involving Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza.Ambassador Chinoy explains India's approach, which involves maintaining balanced relations with both Russia and Ukraine while advocating for peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.Regarding Israel-Gaza, he discusses India's historical ties with Israel, its support for Palestinian aspirations, and the careful balancing act needed to uphold regional stability.Additionally, Ambassador Chinoy discusses the transformative impact of technological advancements on modern warfare. He emphasizes the revolutionary role of drones, which have changed military strategies and tactics, offering new capabilities in surveillance and targeted strikes.

Gopal Bedi, popularly known by his screen name Ranjeet, has worked in over 200 films. He embarked on his journey in 1970 and carved a niche for himself as a versatile character actor, excelling in villainous roles. Some of his notable performances include appearances in films such as 'Sharmeelee', 'Bandhe Haath', and 'Namak Halal'. He continues to leave his mark, as evidenced by his roles in 'Behen Hogi Teri', 'Housefull 2', and 'Housefull 4'.In the Mumbai Edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ranjeet talks about his journey into Bollywood without having a godfather. He shares insights into the changes that have occurred in Bollywood over the last 50 years, noting a lack of camaraderie among actors. Without mincing words, he shares the insider secrets of Bollywood late-night parties in the 70s and 80s.Ranjeet also discusses his experiences working with legends such as Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, and Sunil Dutt. He explains why he opted to portray back-to-back negative characters in movies. Ranjeet reveals that he is a teetotaler and a pure vegetarian, a lifestyle choice starkly contrasting with the roles he portrayed in films.Ranjeet, one of Bollywood's beloved villains, now enjoys retired life in Juhu. He has significantly reduced his film commitments in the last 5 years, focusing instead on minimal work. However, he remains quite active on Instagram with nearly 2 lakh followers.

China has set an ambitious 5% GDP growth target for 2024 and vowed to 'transform' the economy. Beijing has signalled that stability and transforming its economy will continue to be a priority. This comes at a time when China's economy has performed weaker than expected post-pandemic.This episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash was recorded at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 2024. The expert panel examines where China's economy is headed in 2024. What are the growth prospects and challenges ahead for Xi Jinping's government?The expert panel for "The Year of the Dragon" includes Jorge Quiroga, Former President of Bolivia; Noah Barkin, Senior Advisor, China Practice, Rhodium Group, USA; Philippe Le Corre, Senior Fellow, Asia Society Policy Institute, France; Velina Tchakarova, Founder, FACE, and Visiting Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Austria.The panel will evaluate the state of China's economy and whether it is still making friends across the world or not. Does it inspire the same confidence in investors that it did pre-pandemic? How is Beijing's influence projected to evolve globally, particularly in regions like Russia and Latin America? Will it expand or diminish in the upcoming year?

Eric Garcetti, currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to India, stands out as the sole U.S. envoy to have toured 22 states of India within just 12 months since his appointment in March 2023.He also served as the Mayor of Los Angeles, where he held the position of City Council President, becoming one of the city’s youngest mayors. Garcetti announced he would not run for president in 2020, opting to finish his term as mayor.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses the U.S. stance on the Khalistan issue and addresses whether Washington is ‘protecting’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist in India, or not.Ambassador Eric also speaks on why the U.S. keeps ‘meddling’ in India’s internal affairs, whether it’s the Delhi CM being arrested by a Central agency or the Congress party’s account being frozen over income tax ‘evasion.’He defends his comments on the CAA implementation in India and talks about the lengthy waiting procedure for getting a Visitor Visa for the U.S.He also discusses the rise in attacks on Indian students in the U.S. and delves into topics such as India-U.S. ties, military exercises between both countries. Additionally, he shares his experience on the India tour, Bollywood, and Cricket.

China's ambitions are clear: it wants to gain control over Taiwan, but at what cost? The Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, "It is up to the Chinese people to resolve the Taiwan issue," affirming that Beijing will never renounce the right to use force but will strive for a peaceful resolution. The future of Asia's security—and perhaps the world's—is inextricably linked to Taiwan's future.This episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash was recorded at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 2024. The expert panel examines how Taiwan and the region perceive threats to the island and the consequences for global instability in East Asia.The expert panel for "The Asian Matrix: Taiwan's Road Ahead" includes Alan Yang, Executive Director of the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation and Distinguished Professor at National Chengchi University; Sana Hashmi, Fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation; and Saturo Nagao, Non-Resident Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Japan.The panel discusses: How has the 2024 Taiwan presidential election changed the dynamics between Taipei and Beijing? How are Taiwan's own internal conversations on its identity evolving over time? How can Taiwan's partners in the region, from Japan to India, integrate Taiwan further into the global systems and their plans for regional security?

The 39-year-old Annamalai Kuppusamy is making his parliamentary poll debut in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, contesting for the Coimbatore seat. Known for his aggressive style of politics, K. Annamalai is credited with the rise of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Unafraid to speak his mind, he confronts the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu directly and doesn't spare his former ally, the AIADMK. Some even attribute the breakup between AIADMK and BJP to his influence.An engineering graduate, Annamalai pursued management studies at IIM-Lucknow. Hailing from Karur in western Tamil Nadu, he served as an IPS officer in the Karnataka cadre from 2011 to 2019. Joining the BJP in 2021, he was elevated to become the party’s state president, making him the youngest president of the Tamil Nadu unit.In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, K. Annamalai discusses the BJP's prospects in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming polls. He confidently predicts that the BJP will secure double-digit seats in the state. Furthermore, he criticizes DMK's A. Raja and Udhayanidhi Stalin for their anti-Sanatan remarks.Annamalai also delves into topics such as tax devolution to Southern states, delimitation, and his reasons for transitioning into politics. He also addresses the longstanding Cauvery water conflict between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and shares his insights on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on society.

He is a trusted lieutenant of the Gandhi family, an eight-time MLA and considered a 'troubleshooter' for the Congress party. DK Shivakumar is one of the tallest Vokkaliga leaders of the Congress, who lost out in the race to Siddaramaiah and became his deputy.Shivakumar started his political career as a student leader in the 1980s and gradually rose through the ranks of the Congress party. Some even tout him as the next 'Chanakya' of the Congress party after Ahmed Patel.In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, DK Shivakumar talks about the Bengaluru Cafe Blast and alleges that some anti-social elements are behind it, emphasising that the safety of Kannadigas remains the utmost priority.He also shares why Sonia Gandhi chose not to contest the Lok Sabha polls and took the Rajya Sabha route to become an MP. Shivakumar further states that only the Congress party can keep the Congress united and that the Gandhi Family has sacrificed a lot.Shivakumar hits out at the centre and claims injustice to Karnataka in tax devolution, claiming 'stepmotherly' treatment. He also delves into the Cauvery water wars and the Bengaluru water crisis.Additionally, Karnataka Deputy CM speaks on the preparation of the party for the Lok Sabha polls and shares his plans for the state in the upcoming years.