Harsh Vardhan Shringla was the Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 and the former Foreign Secretary of India. He has also been India’s Ambassador to the United States, and High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Thailand.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Amb. Shringla talks about the recent quota protests in Bangladesh. He looks into whether these protests are just the start of bigger problems for the Sheikh Hasina government and discusses if foreign influences played a role. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the protests "almost a terrorist attack" aimed at overthrowing the government.Ambassador Shringla also shares his views on the U.S. Presidential race. He talks about the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life, Joe Biden’s decision to step down, and why Biden supporting Kamala Harris as his successor is important.He also covers the political issues in Nepal, focusing on the frequent leadership changes and how they affect India, especially because Nepal shares borders with five Indian states.Introduction (0:31)Trump vs. Harris (1:16)U.S. Campaign Funding (5:42)Indian Community in the U.S. (9:52)Biden's Legacy (13:58)U.S. Afghan Withdrawal (16:04)Biden's Foreign Policy (19:49)Bangladesh Quota Protests (25:18) Who's Behind Bangladesh Protests? (32:05)1971 B'desh War Against Pakistan (34:33)Economic Crisis in Bangladesh (36:44) Sheikh Hasina's China Visit (39:28)Sheikh Hasina's India Visit (41:25)Bangladesh-Bengal Connection (45:18) End of Sheikh Hasina's Rule? (51:13)Nepal Power Struggle (52:38)India's Stance on KP Oli (59:32)KP Oli's 4th Term (1:05:29)Modi's Russia Visit (1:07:26)

In 2009, following her father Sone Lal Patel's death, Anupriya Patel faced a significant challenge. She was pushed into the political arena to lead the party her father founded. Despite the subsequent party split, Anupriya Patel defied expectations. Now, a three-time MP, she leads Apna Dal (Soneylal) and holds the MoS Health & Family Welfare portfolio for the second time in the Modi government.Anupriya Patel is regarded as a vital player in Uttar Pradesh politics and is one of the key allies of the BJP.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Anupriya Patel discusses the need for a caste census to uplift marginalized communities and the importance of moving beyond caste lines for India's advancement. She also addresses NDA's poor performance in Uttar Pradesh, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, alleging that the opposition capitalized on false narratives like the abrogation of reservation and changing of the constitution. She also speaks about the challenges of being a woman in Indian politics.Anupriya Patel also recounts her responsibilities during the G20 summit and hosting Former French President Emmanuel Macron. She debunks myths about her constituency, Mirzapur, highlighting the contrast between its reality and its OTT portrayal.Introduction (0:00)MoS Health & Family Welfare (1:21) Accidental Politician? (5:00)Apna Dal Split (8:21)The 'Real' Mirzapur (11:20)UP BJP's Debacle (13:15)Letter to CM Yogi (16:33)Opposition's Reservation 'False Narrative' (23:01)Challenges as a Woman Politician in UP (26:19)Reply to SP's Allegations (29:20)Caste Census & OBC Reservation (33:11)Importance of Uplifting Minorities (37:26)Instability in UP? (44:00)NDA Ally Experience (46:15)Revival of Congress in UP (48:45)Importance of Social Diversity (50:25)Reservation in Private Sector (53:45)Snap Reactions (56:15)Women in Politics (1:15:15)Anupriya Patel's Ambition (1:16:37)Mother's Contribution (1:18:00)Personal Lives of Politicians (1:19:45)Maintaining Physical & Mental Health (1:21:23)

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Naor Gilon, Israeli Ambassador to India, discusses the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.He provides insights into Israel's stance on a potential ceasefire against Gaza and the hostage release deal, as well as Qatar's role in mediating the conflict due to its influence over Hamas.He further addresses the issue of misinformation and propaganda from Hamas concerning casualty figures and examines the impact of Middle Eastern funding on the U.S. universities and its influence on perceptions of Israel.Ambassador Gilon also shares the trade ties between India and Israel, highlighting the significance of their bilateral relationship.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti, founder and MD of Drishti IAS, shares his journey from being a civil servant to becoming an educator.Dr. Divyakirti delves into several important issues affecting the education and examination system in India. He discusses the restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the controversies surrounding the NEET-UG. He offers his insights on the UPSC exams, highlighting biases in the selection of Hindi and English candidates.Dr. Divyakirti also addresses the reservation system in India, pointing out the loopholes and how they are being exploited. He also shares his views on the Puja Khedkar case.Dr. Divyakirti also talks about the 2024 Lok Sabha results and how they are going to shape India and what reforms NDA 3.0 can bring.

In 2020, when his father Ram Vilas Paswan passed away, Chirag Paswan faced the biggest challenge of his political career. His uncle took charge of the party, and many thought Chirag's political journey was over. Sidelined by other leaders in his party, he was written off by many. But Chirag Paswan defied the odds. In 2021, he formed the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and now he has secured victory in all five seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.Today, Chirag Paswan holds the same Food Processing Industries ministry that his father once looked after under the Modi government. Chirag calls himself "Modi's Hanuman" and is seen as the future of Bihar politics. The BJP also views him as a ''valuable asset''.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chirag Paswan discusses the importance of Bihari identity and the need to rise above caste lines for a progressive Bihar. He also recalls the tough time when he lost his father and how he navigated his personal and political life.Chirag also talks about his vision for Bihar, one of India's poorest states. He delves into the nepotism debate and explains why his Bollywood debut failed. Chirag also discusses his friendship with Kangana, who is also a member of Parliament in the 18th Lok Sabha.(0:00) Introduction(1:07) Chirag Paswan on Religion(3:17) The Split in LJP(7:35) NDA - LJP Alliance in 2014(11:37) 2024 LS Polls Victory(14:42) Dalit Politics in Bihar(17:14) Caste Politics in Bihar(20:33) Bihar First, Bihari First(27:08) Bihar Infrastructure Mess(30:20) Vidhan Sabha Polls in Bihar(34:29) First 100 Days Plan(39:11) Pride in Being a Bihari(40:56) Nepotism Debate(44:18) Chirag & Tejashwi Spat(48:01) Why Tejashwi Failed(51:20) Agnipath Scheme(54:55) NDA & Its Allies(56:29) Chirag & Kangana's Friendship(59:04) Snap Reaction Segment

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, recorded at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 2024, two sessions are featured- "Decluttering the Discourse: Women of Iran."The first panel features Mojgan Golchin, Head of Department at the International Educational Cooperation Centre for Political and International Studies, Iran, and Neda Raefipour, Diplomat at IPIS, Iran.The second session includes Zohreh Nosrat Kharazmi, Professor at Tehran University, Fariba Allasvand, Professor at the Women and Family Research Institute in Iran, and Masoomeh Seif Afjehee, Head of the Department of Human Rights and Women's Studies at the Centre for Political and International Studies, Iran.The experts delve into the women's lives in Iran, including the Mahsa Amini Hijab protests, the impacts of US sanctions on Iran, and the progress of women in post-revolutionary Iran. They also explore diplomatic relations between India and Iran, as well as cultural exchanges between the two nations.

Former Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria defends the Agnipath scheme, emphasizing the need for a younger, tech-savvy military force. The podcast explores controversies around compensation, implications on armed forces, combat training under the scheme, conscription comparisons, transitioning from Air Force to politics, and BJP's stance on national security.

Bhavish Aggarwal is the Chairman and Managing Director of OLA. He is an experienced entrepreneur who founded Ola Cabs in 2010, which is now India’s most popular ride-hailing service with over 50% market share.In 2021, Bhavish started Ola Electric, a company focused on electric vehicles. Within three years, Ola Cabs and Ola Electric together are valued at over $13 billion.His latest venture, Krutrim, launched in April 2023, became India's first AI unicorn. Krutrim is developing a full AI computing stack, including cloud infrastructure, and advanced silicon for data centers.Bhavish graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, with a degree in Computer Science.In this edition of the ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, Bhavish shared his vision for India's tech future, critiqued Western tech dominance, and advocated for greater autonomy and data sovereignty in India's AI efforts.With plans for an IPO and expansions into EVs, Bhavish envisions India leading in technology and societal change. He emphasized the importance of India developing its own tech and cultural paradigms to maintain national data and narrative control.(0:00) Introduction (1:17) Tech Giants’ Attire(3:54) Oats vs. Ice Salvo(9:13) Lithium Tech Sustainability(13:41) Supply Chain Importance(21:59) Taiwan: Computing Industry Hub(24:21) Krutrim: India’s Own AI(31:09) American CEO vs. Indian CEO(37:39) Who Owns Digital Data(42:01) Ola vs. Uber(44:21) Childhood Story(49:20) Working Hours Debate(53:27) Job Creation Business(56:21) India’s Startup Boom(58:09) From Ola Cabs to EVs(1:08:14) Women Workforce(1:10:29) Ola IPO Launch(1:12:09) Cost-Effective EVs(1:21:37) Ola Bikes(1:25:53) Krutrim Competitors(1:30:29) Govt Support to EV Industry(1:34:15) True & False Segment(1:46:07) Snap Reaction Segment

Chandrashekhar Azad has secured a seat in Parliament by garnering over 50% of the votes from the Nagina Constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Dalit leader clinched victory amidst stiff competition from opponents such as the SP, BSP, and BJP. This comes at a time when the national party BSP failed to win any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. Chandrashekhar Azad is a lawyer, chief, and co-founder of the Bhim Army. He is also the national president of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram). In February 2021, Azad was featured in Time magazine's annual list of 100 Emerging Leaders who are Shaping the Future.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Azad explains what this victory means for his community and the future of Dalit politics in India. He also discusses why he chose to enter active politics and the challenges he faced to reach this point. Azad shares his views on BSP Supremo Mayawati and analyzes what went wrong for the BSP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.Azad claims to be the hope of the Dalit community and vows to advocate for their rights in Parliament. He strongly advocates for reservation in the private sector, emphasizing the need for adequate representation for the Dalit community. Azad also discusses why he is not part of the INDIA alliance and what strained his ties with the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav.In 2020, Azad was arrested for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens in Delhi. He was previously arrested for allegedly inciting caste-based riots in Saharanpur in 2017. In this episode, he also recounts his ordeal in police custody.(0:00) Introduction(0:35) Journey to Parliament(4:09) Who's the Inspiration(6:120 Swearing-in as MP(10:15) Alliance & Nagina's Development(13:18) Bid to Defeat Azad(18:22) Dalits and Their Rights(19:51) Why Electoral Politics(21:57) Revolutionary Life(26:40) Minorities & Political Power(29:32) NSA Against Azad(36:14) NDA or INDIA?(44:10) Biggest Dalit Leader(52:28) Azad's Support Base(57:45) Controversies on Castes(1:05:50) Constitution(1:08:20) Equal Representation

In the old city of Hyderabad, child marriages remain a significant challenge even in the 21st century. What's even more shocking is the practice of multiple marriages of these girls in exchange for money, with a majority belonging to the Muslim community.Hyderabad-based poet and activist Jameela Nishat is the founder of the 'Shaheen Women's Resource & Welfare Association,' which aims to assist girls trapped in these customs and help them rebuild their lives.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jameela Nishat delves deeper into this issue and exposes an alleged 'child bride' racket running in Hyderabad. She reveals how young girls are married off to much older men using fake marriage certificates for short periods, only to be remarried to other older men later on.Additionally, she discusses how these girls often become victims of trafficking, predominantly to Gulf countries. Jameela also talks about the reasons why families choose to marry minor girls to sheikhs for the sake of money. She categorizes these marriages as fake, emphasizing the complicity of "qazis" who perform such marriages in violation of all rules. Jameela also explains the role of agents in this racket.(0:00) Introduction(1:40) Hyderabad's Child Marriages(6:03) Illegal Marriage Process(8:19) Taking Women to Gulf Nations(9:32) WhatsApp Marriages(10:32) Ameena Case(11:26) Young Girls Being Sold(13:58) Shaheen Women's Resource & Welfare Association(14:20) Domestic Violence(15:06) Triple Talaq & Polygamy(16:41) Attack on Jameela Nishat(19:09) Abandoned Muslim Women(21:08) Migration of Young Girls(23:47) Education is the Solution(24:47) Fatwa (26:54) Awareness & Poetry