ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash Asian News International (ANI)

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 January 2011 to February 2013. Subsequently, in June 2013, he joined the International Peace Institute as a senior advisor.

In a recent episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Hardeep Singh Puri made startling revelations about leaders of the Congress Party planning a presidential form of government during the peak of the Emergency. He also alleged that Sanjay Gandhi had a sinister plan to suspend elections for three to four decades. 

Puri also discussed the evolution of dynasty politics within the Congress Party over the years. Furthermore, he criticized foreign media for their biases towards the Narendra Modi government. Additionally, Puri shared insights on the BJP's prospects in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

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 on the basis on religion. He also speaks up on the important of a caste census in India. He also alleges that Congress has never acted in the intererst of the country's Dalit community.

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 religion-based quotas. Owaisi boldly advocates for addressing the social and educational challenges faced by Muslim communities through reservations. He criticizes PM Modi for labeling Muslims as 'infiltrators', condemning it as a new low in political discourse.

AIMIM chief Owaisi counters PM Modi's claim on Muslim fertility rates, citing government data showing a decline. He questions BJP's slogan '400 Paar', suggesting it aims to alter the constitution. Owaisi also explains why he compared PM Modi to Hitler and claims Muslims in today's India are in a situation similar to that of the Jews during Hitler's era.

Addressing Madhavi Latha's 'Bow-Arrow' gesture, Owaisi asserts she has been exposed and accuses BJP of diverting attention from development to religious divisions. He also responds to allegations of AIMIM's association with Razakars, dismissing them as baseless.

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 Sharad Pawar was aware of or in the dark about Ajit Pawar's swearing-in ceremonies in 2019 and 2023. Patel mentions PM Modi's vision and development projects and justifies Ajit Pawar's decision to join hands with the BJP.

Praful Patel also addresses his alleged involvement in the Air India leasing case, which was closed by the CBI eight months after he joined the NDA. He also responds to the opposition's jibe about the BJP being a "washing machine."

He also shares some untold stories behind the formation of the NCP and what led Sharad Pawar to break away from the Congress and form another party. He also shares stories about how Sharad Pawar was close to obtaining the top job in the country and blamed his indecisiveness for not achieving it. He asserts that the Gandhi Family would never trust Sharad Pawar and has backstabbed him many times.

Patel also takes on Uddhav Thackeray and claims that Raj Thackeray had the potential to take the Shiv Sena to greater heights had he not been a lazy politician.

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 India's democratic setup.

He also explains why Global media is ‘biased’ against PM Modi and continues to defame India’s democracy.

Shashi Shekhar speaks up about how these foreign media outlets have repeatedly attacked India's majority population, the Hindus, and their sentiments around the newly inaugurated Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

He also advises foreign journalists not to cross a line and hype up India's internal issues, which in turn may create a security situation in the country.

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 also speaks up about why his party had to split ways with their earlier rival the Samajwadi Party, and why his party wouldn't allign with Dalit leader and Bhim Army Chief Chandrasekhar Azad. 

The young Dalit politician with a foreign MBA, also opens up for the first time about being discriminated against for his caste by a senior in school, despite being the CM's nephew.