Piyush Vedprakash Goyal is an Indian politician and chartered accountant who serves as a cabinet minister in the Government of India. He oversees portfolios including the Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. He is currently a Member of Parliament for Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra and serves as the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha. In his 35-year political career, Piyush Goyal has reached several signific...
May 16, 2024•58 min
The world's biggest festival of democracy is underway in India. Drama, spectacle, colour, jibes, and exuberant noise—India is witnessing everything. But what about its neighbours? How are they watching the Indian Election 2024? Who do they want in power: a strong independent government or a coalition one? How will the 2024 India General election shape neighbours' foreign policies? We will get all the answers. Joining this podcast are two esteemed experts, Ajay Bisaria and Tilak Devasher. Bisaria...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 36 min
Nara Chandrababu Naidu, also known as Chandrababu Naidu or CBN, is a veteran Indian politician who currently holds the position of the leader of the opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and has been the president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) since 1995. Chandrababu Naidu also served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004 and is acknowledged for his role in the development of Hyderabad and for successfully conceptualizing the city's IT hub, Cyberabad. The vetera...
May 11, 2024•52 min
Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, widely recognized as KTR, is a Member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly and the son of K Chandrashekar Rao, the first Chief Minister of Telangana, created after bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. Previously, he served as cabinet minister for IT, Municipal Administration & Urban Development in Telangana's second assembly. He continues to represent the Sircilla assembly constituency since 2009 and holds the position of working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Sachin Pilot is a senior Congress leader and former Union Minister who has also served as Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan. He also held the position of President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee and played a major role in building the Congress Party's cadres in the state. Coming from a political family, his father, Rajesh Pilot, was a senior Congress politician and Union Minister as well. Pilot made history as the first Union minister of India to be commissioned as an officer in th...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Hardeep Singh Puri, a former diplomat and current Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in the Modi Government. He is also the longest-serving Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs in India's history. An Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1974 batch, Puri served as Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013. During this time, he also chaired the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee from Januar...
May 06, 2024•44 min
Prof. Dilip Mandal is anauthor and a seasoned journalist. He is the former managing editor of India Today Hindi Magazine, and has authored books on media and sociology. Often known for talking about the plight of dalits in India, Mandal has often seen himself in controversies for voicing out strong opinions on social media sites like X. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the senior journalist speaks up about the ongoing Muslim Reservation Row, and why, reservation should not be o...
May 05, 2024•1 hr 36 min
Asaduddin Owaisi, a barrister and four-time Member of Parliament, is the Chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). He ranks among the 500 most influential Muslims globally. Representing the Hyderabad constituency in the Lok Sabha, Owaisi is campaigning for re-election against BJP's Madhavi Latha, known for her outspokenness. In the latest episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Owaisi discusses the controversy over Muslim reservations, following the PM's statement against relig...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 17 min
Praful Patel is a Rajya Sabha MP, former Union Aviation Minister, and the working president of the NCP. He is also a former president of the All India Football Federation and also served as a member of the FIFA Council. Patel inherited his passion for politics from his father Manoharbhai Patel, who was a senior leader of the Congress in Maharashtra. In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Praful Patel sheds light on the exact reason behind the split of the NCP, and whether S...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 36 min
Shashi Sekhar is the former CEO of Prasar Bharati, India's public broadcaster. He assumed office in 2017 and served a five-year term till 2022. An alumnus of IIT-Bombay, he was the youngest and first non-bureaucrat to hold the public office since its creation in 1997. In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, former CEO of Prasar Bharati opens up about the Western media's 'obsession' with Prime Minister Modi, often calling him an 'authoritarian leader' – a direct attack on Ind...
Apr 28, 2024•1 hr 8 min
28-year-old Akash Anand is the National Coordinator of the Bahujan Samaj Party. Nephew of BSP supremo Mayawati, Akash joined the party in 2016 and rose through the ranks, to become the the second most important leader in the party. In December 2023, Mayawati also known as 'Behenji' named him as her political successor at a party meeting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In this episode of the ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, Anand speaks about the current state of politics in Uttar Pradesh. He al...
Apr 25, 2024•52 min
Dr. Cholenahally Nanjappa Manjunath, known as Dr. C N Manjunath, is a renowned cardiologist, who was the director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research for 18 years, the largest Heart Care Centre in Southeast Asia. Under his leadership, the institute introduced 'Treatment First and Payment Next', praised by former U.S. President Barack Obama for providing high-quality cardiac care at affordable rates. Recipient of the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian awar...
Apr 23, 2024•41 min
HD Kumaraswamy, known as the 'kingmaker' of Karnataka politics, served as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 2018 to 2019 and from 2006 to 2007. He is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Mandya constituency, which his son Nikhil lost to actor Sumalatha in 2019. The son of former Indian Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, HD Kumaraswamy is also a Kannada film producer and actor. He has produced several successful Kannada films, including 'Chandra Chakori', which ran for an impressive 365 day...
Apr 20, 2024•39 min
Rajeev Gowda wears many hats - he is an academician, spokesperson, professor, and social worker. Formerly a Rajya Sabha MP, he is now a Congress candidate for the Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency, a Vokkaliga stronghold. He is contesting against BJP's Shobha Karandlaje, also a Vokkaliga. Currently, Rajeev serves as Chairman of the Congress Research Department. Previously, he was the Director of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India and chaired the Centre for Public Policy at IIM B...
Apr 18, 2024•57 min
Tejasvi Surya, the dynamic BJP MP representing Bengaluru South in the 17th Lok Sabha is also the President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha since September 26, 2020. At just age 33, the youngest BJP MP in the 17th Lok Sabha is a captivating speaker, and a fitness enthusiast. Tejasvi holds a Bachelor of Academic Law and an LLB from Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies and is proficient in Carnatic music. His NGO, Arise India, is dedicated to enhancing school education. In this episode of the P...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 51 min
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 s...
Apr 15, 2024•49 min
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 o...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 16 min
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...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 22 min
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...
Apr 07, 2024•1 hr 19 min
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 ...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 43 min
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...
Apr 02, 2024•49 min
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 discus...
Mar 31, 2024•52 min
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 Fe...
Mar 29, 2024•50 min
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 managemen...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 40 min
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...
Mar 26, 2024•54 min
It's BJP's Madhavi Latha versus AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi. A long time RSS worker against a prominent Muslim leader will be taking on each other in Hyderabad. Madhavi Latha is not an active politician and does not belong to any political family. She is the first female candidate fielded by the BJP in Hyderabad. She is a social activist, Bharatnatyam dancer, and former NCC cadet, who is also running a Gaushala. She campaigned against Triple Talaq, while Owaisi claimed it to be unconstitutional...
Mar 24, 2024•1 hr 42 min
Jagadish Vasudev better known as "Sadhguru," is the founder of the Isha Foundation. He dons many hats as a yoga guru, mystic, philanthropist, author, and podcaster. Sadhguru defies stereotypes by actively engaging in various activities beyond meditation. He sings, dances, rides a bike, and drives vehicles for causes that impact humanity, such as "Save The Soil." In recognition of his spiritual teachings and humanitarian efforts, Sadhguru was honoured with India’s second-highest civilian award, t...
Mar 23, 2024•2 hr 12 min
Shehzad Poonawalla is a well-known face of the BJP on TV debates, with fiery puns and takes on the Congress. His debates often go viral on social media. Aditi Singh is a BJP MLA from Raebareli Sadar, the bastion of Sonia Gandhi, which now stands vacated as the former Congress president has moved to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Aditi and Shehzad get candid and share why they switched to the BJP from the Congress, and whether anyone f...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 37 min
In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we bring you a perfect mix of humour, masti, and unapologetic conversation. Joining us are Anand Ranganathan, an author, scientist, and social commentator, alongside Ranvir Shorey, a former VJ who works in the Hindi film industry and is known for his candid political commentary on social media. From the vibrant realms of Bollywood to the corridors of politics, they fearlessly explore a wide array of topics. Ranvir Shorey provides insig...
Mar 17, 2024•2 hr 17 min
Just ahead of the mega 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, the Centre has notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed by Parliament four years ago. Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserts that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled another commitment after Article 370 and Triple Talaq. The opposition labels the CAA as 'anti-Muslim' and 'unconstitutional'. The CAA facilitates the process for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangla...
Mar 14, 2024•38 min
