ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Israeli envoy Naor Gilon has been in the news recently for taking on Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid for his comments at the International Film Festival of India. In this podcast, that was recorded earlier Ambassador Naor Gilon talks with Smita Prakash on India–Israel relations which is on a very strong footing with both the nations looking at each other as strategic partners in all spheres of life. From defence to agriculture, from cyber security to start-up culture, India and Israel have been able to set up a system of cooperation that has been a cause for envy for India’s neighbours. He focuses on the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel in 2017 was a game-changer for both countries. Ambassador Naor Gilon also opens up about his life, growing up in a family which had Holocaust survivors, serving in the Israeli Army, and having kids who are currently serving officers.

Shraddha Walkar’s murder by her boyfriend Aftab Poonawalla has transfixed the country. The gruesome details that are emerging everyday have, once again, brought to focus the issue of crimes against women in the country and especially in the city of Delhi. To shed further light on the issue Smita Prakash spoke with a former police officer who knows Delhi like the back of her hand. She was the first woman officer of the Indian police service. Kiran Bedi has worked tirelessly to reduce crimes against women. In this conversation she talks about the mentality of criminals, the need for reforms in the system and the way forward. She shares her opinions on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and what she feels he should do to make Delhi better. She also opens up about her tenure in the police force, her political stint, and her most cherished days as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. 

14 years have passed since the terror attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. For the first time ever hear from the man who led an elite covert counter-terror unit that took the fight to the enemy. Colonel Hunny Bakshi, Ex-Commanding Officer of Technical Support Division (TSD), a Military Intelligence unit set up in 2010 in the aftermath of 26/11. In an illuminating conversation with Smita Prakash, he talks about the idea behind the unit, his investigation that led to the unearthing of the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the operations conducted, and the politics that resulted in controversies for him and the unit. The survivor of three IED attacks shares about the role the media played and the consequences the nation had to face. Throughout the conversation, he talks about the discipline of the Indian Army and how it stands with the democratic principles of the country.

Palki Sharma has been a TV reporter and anchor for over two decades. She was the face of Wion before she joined Network 18 as Managing Editor and is now building a team for a new venture. In an interesting conversation with Smita Prakash, she talks about her life, tackling trolls, breaking stereotypes and the challenges of International News. She opens up about her reasons for moving from Wion and her plans for the next venture of the Network 18 Group. Through the conversation she also highlights the issues faced by women journalists and how she managed it throughout her career.

Yatinder Singh, a bodybuilder and fitness expert, is also a social media influencer through his Youtube channel on which he guides youngsters who want to take up bodybuilding as a profession or as a lifestyle. He is a three-time Mr. India title-holder and this year at an age when most bodybuilders retire, he won the title of Asia Champion silencing his critics for good. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, Yatinder talks about his humble beginnings, his potentially career-ending injury, his comeback and future goals. He shares his diet which has remained the same for years and has helped him win tournament after tournament. Through the conversation, he emphasises the importance of having a proper trainer for anyone who is keen on hitting the gym.

Padyatra which translates to ‘journey by foot' has been used as an agent of social change by religious and social reformers from ancient times. Even politicians have used it to gain political mileage, the most impactful one being the Salt March undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi against the British tax regime. Currently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a padyatra from South to North India called the Bharat Jodo Yatra which he says is to unite the nation divided by the divisive policies of the BJP government.  But are padyatras relevant in an age where even those residing in villages have access to mobile networks and television reaches every corner of the country? Will Rahul Gandhi be able to convert the crowd into votes and will it impact the next elections? To discuss these questions, we have veteran politician Sudhindra Bhadoria of the Bahujan Samaj Party who played an essential role in the Bharat Yatra of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekar in 1983. Also joining the podcast is Shantanu Gupta, founder of Yuva Foundation. He is author and biographer of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The recent happenings in Pakistan have taken a new turn after the assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Imran Khan. For the first time in history, people are openly protesting against the Pakistan Army and anti-American sentiments are at an all-time high. What do these developments mean for India and how does it impact geopolitics on the global stage to discuss more on it Smita Prakash spoke with Tilak Devasher who is the author of three widely acclaimed books on Pakistan and retired as Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat Government of India. He is currently a member of the National Security Advisory Board. Major Gaurav Arya is an Indian Army veteran and founder of the Chanakya Forum. He is a public speaker who is seen on television debates and is popular on social media in India and Pakistan.

Sarbananda Sonowal, the former Chief Minister of Assam is one of the tallest political leaders from North East India. He is currently the Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Cabinet Minister of AYUSH in the Government of India. In a detailed conversation with Smita Prakash, he talks about his journey in politics from being a student leader to now being the only politician from the North East to be part of the BJP Parliamentary Board. Sonowal sheds light on the workings of the Ministry of AYUSH and its achievements at the global level. He further goes on to explain the latest developments in the field of shipping under the current government. In this conversation, Sonowal also slams the Congress for betraying the people of North East for many years and focuses on the changes brought about after 2014.

Priyanka Chaturvedi is a Member of Parliament from the Rajya Sabha and holds the post of Deputy Leader in the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction). A former Congress spokesperson, Priyanka has been a voice for gender equality both inside and outside of parliament. She has been strident in her criticism of the BJP and does not hesitate to take on the government even on issues outside of her home state of Maharashtra. She is known to speak straight from the heart and in this episode with Smita Prakash, she does just that as she talks about issues ranging from woman empowerment to dealing with trolls, from personal life to her political journey. She opens up on why she quit the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena and what changes it brought to her political career. Through the conversation, she emphasizes the issue of stereotyping of women, especially in the field of politics

Lt Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) popularly known as 'Tiny Dhillon' is a decorated officer with a career spanning 39 years. He has served as Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence). He earned widespread appreciation for initiating unconventional, people-friendly operations during his tenure as head of XV Corps in Kashmir. His line ‘Kitne Ghazi aaye kitne Ghazi gaye’ has become legendary in the social media circuit. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash Lt Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) talks about Army life, operations undertaken and the social media plunge. He goes on to talk about what happened behind the scenes of the Balakot air strike and the implementation of Article 370. On a lighter note, he shares about his retired life, family, and love for food.