ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Sanjay Kumar Jha is a member of the Rajya Sabha and serves as the National Working President of Janata Dal-United. He is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture. He led an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation to convey India's message on Operation Sindoor.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Jha Jha explains how Op Sindoor showcased India's united stand against terrorism and gained global support.Jha speaks about Nitish Kumar's health and whether he will be fit for the upcoming state elections. He also clarifies whether Nitish Kumar will be the CM candidate for the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar. The conversation covers crucial issues like employment, migration, NDA seat-sharing, and the development agenda in Bihar.00:00 – Introduction01:32 – PM Modi Meeting with All-Party Delegations on Op Sindoor02:48 – Troll by Congress over All-Party Delegation04:35 – Diplomatic Snub to Pakistan05:47 – Congress Leaders in All-Party Delegation08:13 – Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Narender Surrender’ Jibe09:37 – Op Sindoor at Core of BJP’s Poll Push?11:13 – Rahul Gandhi's “Match-Fixing” Claim11:51 – Anti-Incumbency Factor in Bihar13:38 – Nitish Kumar’s Health14:17 – JD(U)-BJP Alliance in Bihar15:11 – Dynasty Politics in Bihar16:48 – Migration & Flood Issue in Bihar22:07 – NDA’s Seat-Sharing Deal in Bihar23:00 – Global Media Coverage of Op Sindoor Outreach Delegation26:50 – External Support to India During Op Sindoor28:05 – Media Interaction by Nitish Kumar30:43 – Reservation in Private Sector Jobs31:42 – Paper Leaks in Bihar33:54 – Prashant Kishor and Jan Suraaj

Manjinder Singh Sirsa is a minister in the Delhi Government, holding the Industries, Food & Supplies and Environment, Forest & Wildlife portfolio. The Rajouri Garden MLA is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.Formerly with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sirsa joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021 and was appointed National Secretary of the party in August 2023. He has also served as the President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, an autonomous organisation responsible for managing Gurdwaras in the national capital. Sirsa is a prominent Sikh leader in Delhi and holds significant influence in the Sikh community.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sirsa speaks about the ban on old Petrol and Diesel vehicles in Delhi and how the BJP plans to challenge it. He also shares his views on the controversy surrounding Arvind Kejriwal’s 'Sheesh Mahal' residence, and why the new official bungalow allotted to CM Rekha Gupta has drawn criticism.The conversation also touches on topics like the SGPC, Diljit Dosanjh’s film with a Pakistani actress, the Khalistan issue, and the presence of Rohingyas in Delhi.00:00 – Introduction00:38 – Forests and Wildlife in Delhi04:26 – Fuel Ban on Old Vehicles in Delhi11:26 – Delhi's Anti-Pollution Plan22:16 – Stubble Burning Crisis in Punjab24:55 – Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’26:30 – Rekha Gupta's ‘Maya Mahal’27:25 – Rohingya Settlements in Delhi30:26 – Delhi Excise Policy Case32:14 – Diljit Dosanjh Controversy33:37 – Future of the BJP in Punjab39:52 – Slogans Against PM Modi in Canada49:40 – Protection of Golden Temple During Op Sindoor52:35 – ‘Saint’ Tag for Bhindranwale55:16 – Immigration from Punjab57:07 – Snap Reaction Segment58:59 – Favourite Food in Delhi1:03:24 – Reforestation Projects in Delhi

Nityanand Rai is a Member of Parliament from Bihar and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He currently serves as the Minister of State for Home Affairs. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the surge in crime in Bihar and shares what the government is doing to strengthen law and order in the state. He also shares his views on the Rohingya issue, Operation Sindoor, migration, and discusses the NDA's Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.*Timestamps*00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – Who are the ‘Thugs’ of Bihar?02:50 – What has NDA done in Bihar?06:15 – Delay in Patna Airport expansion07:23 – Bihar During Yadav Family at Helm09:37 – Surge in Crime in Bihar12:16 – Rohingya issue in Bihar15:08 – NDA’s CM face for Bihar15:58 – ‘Narender Surrender’ jibe20:03 – BJP’s ‘Big Brother’ role in Bihar20:34 – Endgame for Naxalism in India

Dilip Kumar Jaiswal is the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar. He plays a key role in shaping the party’s strategy and leadership in the state. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jaiswal refers to Prashant Kishor as "Paisa Kishor" and challenges him to name even one significant contribution he has made to Bihar. The conversation covers crucial issues like employment, migration, NDA seat-sharing, and the development agenda in Bihar.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction00:30 – NDA’s CM Face in Bihar01:50 – NDA's Seat Sharing in Bihar03:46 – BJP’s Dependence on Nitish Kumar07:30 – BJP’s Poll Strike Rate in Bihar08:49 – Who is ‘Paisa Kishor’?11:27 – Migration Issues in Bihar13:34 – Reservation in Private Sector Jobs15:24 – Caste Census16:43 – Operation Sindoor18:26 – Land Survey in Bihar20:25 – Development Projects in Bihar21:36 – Singing Talent

Kanhaiya Kumar is the All India Congress Committee in-charge of NSUI and a youth leader in the Congress party. Tasked by Rahul Gandhi with strengthening the party’s presence in Bihar, he recently led a padyatra in the state. He is also a former president of the JNU Students’ Union.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Kanhaiya Kumar talks about the Congress party’s future in Bihar, Operation Sindoor, the issues of unemployment and migration, and the everyday realities faced by people in the state. He also shares his thoughts on whether padyatras can help revive the Congress’s fortunes in Bihar.00:00 - Introduction 00:34 - Kanhaiya Kumar's padyatra in Bihar 03:53 - BJP vs Congress: Bihar's Development 05:33 - Bharat Jodo Yatra: Who Really Benefited? 06:18 - Kanhaiya Kumar’s Promise for Bihar 06:58 - Centre vs Non-BJP States? 07:58 - Will Congress Comeback in Bihar? 10:26 - RJD-Congress Alliance 11:43 - Issues of Bihar 14:27 - Rahul Gandhi's 'Narender Surrender' Jibe 17:08 - Politics of Kanhaiya Kumar

Sanjay Yadav is a Member of the Rajya Sabha and is widely known as the political advisor and close aide to Tejashwi Yadav. Often referred to as the ‘Chanakya’ of the RJD, many believe that nothing moves in the party without his approval. He hails from Mahendragarh in Haryana.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Yadav defends what many critics call the ‘jungle raj’ era of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar. He also addresses concerns about Nitish Kumar’s health and explains why Nitish chose to break ties with the RJD.Sanjay Yadav also discusses the Muslim-Yadav combination, which is often seen as the core of RJD’s vote bank. Sanjay Yadav shares his views on Tej Pratap Yadav and responds to the speculation around whether he is fueling tensions between the Yadav brothers.00:00 – Introduction00:32 – Sanjay Yadav RJD’s ‘Chanakya’?03:23 – Central Agency Raids on Opposition04:07 – Tejashwi's Tenure as Bihar Deputy CM05:57 – Mahagatbandhan Seat Sharing08:25 – ‘Jungle Raj’ in Bihar14:41 – RJD’s M-Y Equation18:24 – Why Nitish Left INDIA Bloc21:04 – Relationship with Akhilesh Yadav22:28 – Tejashwi’s ‘Unconscious’ Jibe at Nitish24:21 – Nitish Kumar’s Return to NDA

Ashok Choudhary is the Minister of the Rural Works Department in Bihar. He is known to be close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and also serves as the National General Secretary of the Janata Dal (United). He is considered one of the most influential ministers in the Bihar cabinet. Before joining JD(U), he was the Bihar Congress chief.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ashok Choudhary talks about reports questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's fitness to lead the state and the defamation case against Prashant Kishor.He also speaks about his time as Bihar Congress chief and what led to the decline of the party in the state. He calls Rahul Gandhi a good human being but says he is superficial when it comes to politics. Ashok Choudhary also shares his views on Tejashwi Yadav and the caste census.00:00 – Introduction00:40 – Nitish Kumar Fit to Lead Bihar?05:26 – Migration from Bihar08:10 – Future Plans for Bihar11:52 – Law and Order Situation in Bihar13:13 – Defamation Case Against Prashant Kishor17:52 – Startups in Rural Areas20:50 – Is JD(U) a Rural Party?21:21 – Chirag Paswan Miffed with NDA?22:07 – NDA Seat Sharing Rift24:12 – Prashant Kishor vs Nitish Kumar26:30 – Caste Politics in Bihar29:00 – NDA's Promise for Bihar31:53 – Operation Sindoor

Poonam Dhillon, a timeless icon of Indian cinema, began her journey as a model and rose to fame after being crowned second runner-up at Miss India 1977. She debuted at 16 with the blockbuster Trishul, and later went on to act in popular movies like Noorie, Red Rose, and Teri Kasam, she shared the screen with legends such as Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, and Rishi Kapoor, becoming a beloved figure in Bollywood’s golden era.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Poonam Dhillon takes us through her remarkable career, from her accidental entry into films to navigating the industry’s challenges as a young actress. She shares nostalgic anecdotes about shooting 'Trishul' with Amitabh Bachchan, her bond with co-stars like Farooq Sheikh. She also started the idea of vanity vans with her company, Vanity. Poonam opens up about her personal life, including her early marriage, raising her kids, and balancing work and family.She also discusses her role as president of CINTAA, where she fights for better pay for small-time actors, and her time with the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. Poonam shares her brief stint in politics with the BJP in 2004 and her work with NGOs for causes like organ donation. With warmth, she talks about her love for theatre and her hope to support new artists.00:00 – Introduction03:16 – Working in film Trishul05:56 – Debut scene with Amitabh Bachchan07:37 – Why Yash Chopra chose Poonam?09:18 – Working with Rajesh Khanna13:31 – Fan crowd for Rajesh Khanna14:05 – Shooting with Kumar Gaurav16:03 – Costume designers in the 1980s20:55 – Working with Rishi Kapoor23:31 – Do directors go strict on their own kids?27:30 – Kamal Haasan’s lesson on punctuality30:28 – Working in television34:03 – Robbery at home35:38 – Working for street children38:25 – Why was Poonam upset with her marriage?40:48 – Life after divorce42:00 – Friends’ reaction after divorce43:35 – Bollywood’s 80s dating & marriage stories47:53 – Off-screen moments with co-stars49:29 – Introducing vanity vans51:52 – Dining at Rishi Kapoor’s home55:18 – How Yeh Vaada Raha film was pitched59:36 – 80s heroines avoided abuse01:01:07 – Handling emotions after shooting01:04:61 (or 01:05:01) – Managing finances & investment01:12:58 – Lessons for children01:15:16 – Working with FCAT & CINTAA01:23:08 – Joining BJP & social work01:25:16 – Offered Rajya Sabha seat

Shambhavi Choudhary, a young parliamentarian from the Lok Janshakti Party, and Samrat Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, passionately discuss Bihar's political landscape. Samrat defends the NDA's achievements in infrastructure and women's empowerment while attacking rival parties, branding them as corrupt. Shambhavi counters critiques on her political ascent, emphasizing her commitment as a Dalit woman MP. Together, they highlight the NDA's resilience and ambition for the upcoming elections, showcasing a vibrant picture of Bihar's progress.

Prashant Kishor, a prominent political strategist and the founder of Jan Suraaj, discusses his ambitions to reshape Bihar's political landscape. He candidly addresses the challenges posed by dynastic politics, emphasizing the role of caste in current dynamics. Kishor outlines his vision for job creation and combating migration, while critiquing political figures like Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. He also touches on the influence of digital media in modern politics and the potential for transformative change in his home state.