Ajeet Bharti is a YouTuber, author, and journalist known for his outspoken views on the BJP and its policies. Pradeep Bhandari is the national spokesperson of the BJP, a psephologist, and a former journalist.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the two discuss a common allegation: Is the BJP becoming the new Congress? They also discuss what the Modi government has achieved in the last 11 years, and whether life has actually become easier for India’s middle class.

The conversation also touches on the upcoming Bihar elections, Rahul Gandhi’s political strategy, and the role of Prashant Kishor in Bihar's politics.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:42 – 11 Years of Modi Sarkar

05:53 – Life Becomes Easier for the Middle Class?

08:52 – BJP Too Dependent on Modi?

10:10 – What Do BJP Supporters Feel Today?

15:26 – Modi’s Political Momentum

23:10 – PM Modi's Fan Base

29:21 – BJP MPs & MLAs Missing on the Ground?

32:22 – How BJP Handles Negative Feedback

35:55 – When Police Came to Ajeet Bharti’s House

43:15 – Rahul Gandhi’s Leadership

52:02 – Kanhaiya Kumar and Bihar Elections

55:00 – Modi vs Rahul: Who Connects More with the Public?

1:08:16 – Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Resignation

1:12:56 – Prashant Kishor’s Role in Bihar Polls

1:21:36 – Bihar’s Migration and Debt Issues

1:26:40 – Indore’s Poha-Jalebi & Swachh Bharat Success

1:34:13 – Bond with Hometowns

1:39:09 – Why the Youth Feel Disconnected from Politics

Samir Saran is the President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India’s leading think tank based in New Delhi. He is a well-known voice in the field of diplomacy and is also the curator of the Raisina Dialogue. Samir has written several books and focuses his research on global governance, climate policy, and India’s foreign relations.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he explains how India should deal with US President Donald Trump. He also talks about Operation Sindoor and why it doesn't matter if no country openly supported India.

Samir shares why Pakistan continues to maintain strong ties with both the US and China. He also discusses what New Delhi needs to do to become a 10 trillion-dollar economy, including building strong trade ties with China, while staying firm and strategic at the border.

He also reflects on how India’s foreign policy has changed over the last decade, and what the road ahead looks like.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

00:46 – Global Support for India During Op Sindoor

14:22 – Op Sindoor Outreach With All-Party Delegations

17:54 – Trump’s Transactional Approach

19:56 – India and the Trump Administration

21:51 – EU–India Trade Deal

24:32 – Weaponisation of Trade

32:36 – India’s Global South Outreach

38:14 – When China Overtook India

44:26 – China–Pakistan Relations

50:26 – Russia–India–China Grouping

54:59 – AI’s Economic Impact

59:36 – Trump–Asim Munir Meet

1:14:32 – Pressure on India Over Russian Oil

1:17:02 – On His Book ‘GeoTechnoGraphy’

Ami Ganatra is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). Her books 'Mahabharata Unravelled' and 'Ramayana Unravelled' present the epics as they were originally written, without modern retellings or fictional twists. She explains their lessons and meanings in a clear, accessible manner, allowing readers of all backgrounds to understand and appreciate these ancient texts.

In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ami Ganatra discusses the war lessons India can draw from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and how they resonate with modern military operations like Operation Sindoor. She explains how wars were fought in the epics, the importance of alliances, and also busts several myths surrounding the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Shri Ram.

Timestamps

00:00 – Coming Up

01:36 – Introduction

03:03 – Do Today’s Generation Know About the Ramayana?

05:40 – Ramayana on TV vs Valmiki’s Ramayana

09:44 – Is Ranbir Kapoor Fit to Play Lord Ram?

14:10 – Why Do Actors Playing Lord Ram Face Backlash?

15:49 – War Lessons from the Ramayana and Mahabharata

26:55 – Ramcharitmanas Quote at Operation Sindoor Briefing

32:52 – Why Alliances Mattered in Hindu Epics

40:07 – Lessons from the Epics About Family Conflicts

45:30 – Can There Be Peace After a War?

47:13 – Aftermath of the Ramayana and Mahabharata

01:03:54 – 'Agni Pariksha' for the Indian Armed Forces

01:16:03 – Radhika Yadav Murder Case

01:20:03 – When Maa Sita Gave Lord Ram His Own Agni Pariksha

01:29:04 – How Can Future Wars Be Prevented?

01:38:05 – The End of Fighting Doesn’t Mean the End of War

01:40:10 – History vs Mythology

Pappu Yadav is an independent MP from Bihar’s Purnia. He has been elected to the Lok Sabha six times and has been active in politics since the 1990s. He spent 12 years in jail in the Ajit Sarkar murder case, but was later acquitted. In 2015, he launched his party, the Jan Adhikar Party, which was merged into the Congress in 2024. He is known for his ‘Robinhood’ image, often seen helping the underprivileged and giving financial aid to those in need.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pappu Yadav discusses his deep affection for the Congress party and explains why the party refuses to acknowledge his long-standing support. He defends the 'bahubali' tag often attached to him, claiming that many of the cases against him were politically motivated.

He also shares his views on Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the issue of infiltration in Bihar, and his opinion on Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishor.

00:00 – Introduction

01:04 – Pappu Yadav joining Jan Suraaj?

03:28 – Manmohan Singh's Tenure in UPA 2

07:31 – Family Background

15:44 – Manmohan Singh and Indo-US Nuclear Deal

19:26 – Congress and Jagjivan Ram

24:40 – Cases Against Pappu Yadav

30:47 – Doctors vs Pappu Yadav

32:44 – Higher Education in Bihar

36:22 – Remarks on Jinnah

39:55 – 'Robinhood of Bihar'

43:38 – Muslim-Yadav Equation in Bihar

48:18 – 'Jungle Raj' Debate

55:56 – Impact of Op Sindoor on 2025 Bihar Polls

1:03:48 – Rising Crime Rate in Bihar

1:12:38 – Congress Leadership in Bihar

1:26:17 – AIMIM & Mahagathbandhan Talk

1:28:17 – Denied Entry to Rahul's Van Row

1:33:07 – Purulia Arms Drop Case

1:35:41 – Snap Reaction Segment

Nishikant Dubey is a member of the BJP representing Godda constituency in the Lok Sabha. He is known for his fierce criticism of the opposition and his outspoken, no-nonsense style. In Parliament, he is seen as one of the most vocal and assertive voices from the BJP benches.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Nishikant Dubey discusses Prime Minister Modi’s succession plan and the role of the RSS in selecting the next BJP chief. He also addresses his controversial remarks about the Supreme Court and the “Patak Patak ke Maarenge” comment directed at the Thackeray brothers.

The conversation also covers the Bihar voter list revision controversy, the Rohingya-Bangladeshi deportation drive, and his views on the Gandhi family.

00:00 – Introduction

01:05 – Did Nehru Give CIA Access to an Indian Airbase?

04:37 – Revenge Against the Gandhi Family & Nehru?

06:29 – Did Russia Control Indian Print Media?

08:34 – Why the Deep State Doesn’t Work in India

15:11 – British Role in Operation Bluestar?

21:18 – "Raj-Uddhav Ko Patak Patak Ke Marenge..."

33:19 – "Muslim Commissioner" Controversy

38:23 – Bihar Voter Roll Revision Row

40:11 – Bangladeshi Infiltration in Bengal

46:30 – Mahua Moitra vs Nishikant Dubey

47:54 – Is BJP Targeting the Muslim Community?

53:01 – Will Muslims Vote for BJP?

57:27 – Friendship with Owaisi

58:34 – Ideological Rifts at Home

1:00:48 – Why He’s Called ‘Baba’

1:02:28 – Who After Modi?

1:05:15 – RSS vs Modi–Shah Over BJP Chief

1:10:04 – Impact of 'Narender Surrender' Slogan

1:11:28 – Did Indira Make a Mistake by Creating Bangladesh?

1:14:26 – Why Indian-Origin CEOs Are Silent on Op Sindoor

1:15:54 – Inside the Op Sindoor Delegation

1:23:26 – Remarks Against the Supreme Court

1:27:09 – 4th Term in Lok Sabha

1:30:29 – Closing

Between May 6 and May 10, India set a new benchmark in Asia’s war strategy. In a bold and unprecedented move, New Delhi struck Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure and targeted air bases and radar sites deep inside the country. This podcast offers a detailed analysis of the events leading up to Operation Sindoor, from the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of innocent civilians, to the geopolitical dynamics involving the United States, the use of Chinese weaponry, and how Indian forces neutralised Turkish drones. This Podcast also presents new facts about how India redefined the rules of engagement in the region.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Colonel Hunny Bakshi, former Commanding Officer of the Technical Support Division (TSD), a military intelligence unit established after the 26/11 attacks; and Lt. Col. Pavithran Rajan, a former intelligence officer, academic, and tech entrepreneur. Together, they unpack how India demonstrated its resolve to strike deep into Pakistan, what lessons were learned, and where further improvement is still needed.

00:00 – Introduction

02:50 – Analysis of Operation Sindoor

05:11 – February 5: Munir’s First Warning

07:52 – How the Pahalgam Attack May Have Happened (Shown on Map)

18:57 – "SSG Commandos Are Terrorists"

21:48 – April 16: Asim Munir’s Second Warning

29:32 – India vs Pakistan-China-Turkey

33:55 – Child Recounts the Pahalgam Horror

41:18 – How Pakistan Fakes the Narrative

44:44 – "War Is a Political Decision"

48:52 – Objectives of Operation Sindoor

51:12 – Proof of Operation Sindoor

54:15 – Donald Trump’s First Reaction to Op Sindoor

01:03:08 – What “Free Hand to the Army” Really Meant

01:04:54 – "Pak Doing Dirty Work For US"

01:05:56 – Iran-Israel War’s Link to Operation Sindoor

01:11:44 – Indian Media Coverage of Operation Sindoor

01:23:02 – India’s Messaging During Operation Sindoor

01:25:27 – India’s Retaliation After the Pahalgam Attack

01:31:45 – How the Indian Air Force Destroyed Pakistan’s Air Bases

01:34:47 – Pakistan’s Bid to Target the Golden Temple

01:37:39 – Jaishankar–Rubio Talks

01:41:47 – JD Vance: “None of Our Business” Statement

01:44:57 – Pakistani Missiles Shot Down in Sirsa

01:52:15 – The U.S. Role in the India–Pakistan Ceasefire

01:59:08 – Why Was There No Action from the Pakistan Navy?

02:04:42 – Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons

02:07:42 – U.S. Funding for Pakistan’s Nuclear Facilities

02:10:38 – Was Nur Khan Airbase Under U.S. Control?

02:13:27 – Debate Over War Duration and Objectives

02:14:48 – Key Takeaways from the India–Pakistan War

02:21:02 – Indian Media Behaviour During Operation Sindoor

02:22:41 – Press Briefings and Perception Management in Wartime

02:27:41 – How India Jammed Pakistani Drones Using ECM

02:32:21 – Disinformation as a War Tactic

02:40:12 – Real-Time Information Flow During War

02:49:57 – Was the Pahalgam Attack a Result of Intel Failure?

02:56:27 – Conclusion

Jibesh Kumar is currently serving as the Minister of Urban Development and Housing in the Government of Bihar. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses the impact of Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bihar ahead of the upcoming polls, the role of the INDIA alliance, and Tejashwi Yadav's "tired" claims about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.The conversation also touches on key urban issues such as metro rail projects, waterlogging during the monsoon, the Smart City Mission, and overall infrastructure and urban development under Nitish Kumar's regime.

00:00 – Introduction

00:23 – NDA Alliance in Bihar

02:53 – Waterlogging Issue in Patna

05:45 – Urban Development in Bihar

08:45 – Metro Rail Projects in Bihar

10:31 – Winning from the Jale Seat

12:33 – INDIA Alliance in Bihar

14:58 – Tejashwi's Remarks on Nitish Kumar’s Health

17:18 – Attack on Darbhanga Deputy Mayor

18:11 – Smart Cities in Bihar

20:46 – Nitish Kumar’s Health

Nitin Nabin is currently serving as the Minister of Road Construction in Bihar and is also the BJP State In-Charge for Chhattisgarh. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about the Bihar Voter Roll Revision Controversy. The conversation covers issues such as NDA’s CM face, road construction, bridge collapses, and the development agenda in Bihar.

00:00 – Coming Up

01:34 – Introduction

01:57 – Road Construction in Rural Bihar

06:30 – Bridge Collapse Issues in Bihar

09:00 – BJP's Position in Bihar Politics

10:20 – The 'Chirag Factor' in NDA

12:00 – Nepotism in Politics

14:03 – Rahul Gandhi's ‘Match-Fixing’ Allegation

15:03 – Corruption Charges

16:04 – Alleged Road Construction Scam

17:50 – Locals Struggle Due to Poor Roads

21:22 – Concerns Over Nitish Kumar’s Health

22:31 – Will Nitish Return in 2025?