EP-288 | Pahalgam Terror Attack: How Pak-Backed Terrorists Planned it & Will India Respond
India has faced its worst terrorist attack on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In Kashmir's Pahalgam, 27 innocent lives were lost and 15 others were injured in an attack backed by Pakistan. Terrorists opened fire at point-blank range, targeting innocent tourists. Four terrorists stormed the popular tourist location, creating chaos for 20 minutes. Will India respond to this attack? What will be New Delhi’s reaction?In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Lieutenant General Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd), former Commander of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps. He explains why terrorists chose Pahalgam to attack civilians, what message Pakistan intends to send to India and Kashmir, and whether the terrorists had local support.Pandey also discusses whether there could be more attacks like the one in Pahalgam and blames Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for orchestrating these attacks, calling him the "Kingpin" behind them.00:00 – Introduction01:00 – Intel failure behind the attack03:33 – Pakistan’s message to Kashmiris05:20 – 'Asim Munir behind the attack'08:11 – Why only tourists were targeted13:54 – Gulmarg fashion show controversy15:20 – Who tipped the terrorists off17:55 – Why women and children were spared21:20 – Rising tourism in Kashmir24:55 – What Kashmiris think of the terror attack28:22 – India vs Pakistan: Leadership compared30:40 – India’s response to the attack33:17 – Casualties in the war34:57 – ISI’s propaganda36:30 – Consequences of war38:42 – 'Pakistan wants a war'43:16 – Civilian, military, and intel coordination46:33 – Why the terrorist said “Tell Modi”50:32 – NC & PDP’s stance on the attack53:56 – A message for Indians
Kushal Mehra is an author and podcaster who divides his time between Canada and India. He is known for his sharp insights and first-hand experience of life in Canada. Ajay Bisaria is the former High Commissioner of India to Canada. He is now a strategic advisor and a well-regarded voice on geopolitics, international business, and public policy.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss why the Canadian elections matter to India and how the outcome could affect relations with New Delhi, especially after strained ties under Justin Trudeau's regime.Kushal and Ajay also talk about how Donald Trump's political comeback and tariff wars are influencing the Canadian political landscape. They explore why Canada has become a safe haven for Khalistani elements. The conversation also touches on concerns around possible foreign interference in the 2025 Canadian elections, including the roles of China, India, and Pakistan.*Audio Timestamps:*00:00 - Introduction02:27 - Why Canadian Polls Matter to India12:32 - How Canada Chooses Its Government16:47 - Mark Carney vs Justin Trudeau18:13 - Canada’s Response to Trump’s Win21:07 - Trump’s Influence on Canada’s Polls29:19 - Impact of Debates on Canada’s Polls31:32 - Situation of Indian Students in Canada34:39 - Indian Students Being Targeted in Canada42:15 - Minorities and Canada’s Election48:17 - What's Next in India-Canada Ties50:36 - Jagmeet Singh’s Political Future55:02 - Global Trade War01:00:04 - Nijjar Killing Row01:09:12 - Role of Indian Embassy in Canada01:15:52 - Diplomats' Security in Canada01:20:37 - India-Canada Diplomatic Ties
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1:28:27
EP-286 | Waqf Act, Mamata, Rahul, Manipur, Collegium System, Muhammad Yunus & China | Kiren Rijiju
Kiren Rijiju is currently serving as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and the Minister of Minority Affairs. He has served as the Union Law Minister of India and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports. He is considered one of the most active and respected parliamentarians, with over 90% attendance in Parliament and regular participation in debates and questions on national and international issues.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Kiren Rijiju clears the air on the Waqf Amendment Act, saying that no rights of the Muslim community will be taken away. He strongly criticises opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and Asaduddin Owaisi.He also talks about the Manipur crisis and addresses the question of why the Prime Minister has not visited the state. Rijiju speaks about the BJP not having a single Muslim MP and shares his views on the collegium system, the China-Arunachal passport issue, and Muhammad Yunus' statement on the Northeast.00:00 – Introduction 00:58 – Waqf Act 03:28 – Rahul Gandhi on Waqf 05:10 – Impact of Waqf Act on North-East 08:24 – Bengal CM Against the Waqf Act 09:30 – Waqf-Related Violence in Bengal 12:37 – Non-BJP States on the Waqf Act 16:53 – Can Waqf Trigger a Nationwide Protest? 20:28 – Viral Picture with Omar Abdullah 23:23 – Waqf Act's Impact on Mosques 29:24 – Manipur Debate in Parliament 31:36 – Who’s to Blame for the Manipur Crisis? 37:38 – Normalcy in Manipur 40:48 – Role as Parliamentary Affairs Minister 44:13 – TMC MP Mahua’s Allegation 49:39 – Dhankhar Mimicry Row 55:26 – Fight Over Ambedkar’s Legacy 01:02:41 – Rijiju as Law Minister 01:05:16 – Entry into Politics 01:10:44 – Muhammad Yunus’ Comment on Northeast 01:15:06 – Arunachal-China Passport Row 01:17:58 – China-India Border Dispute 01:18:41 – Physical Fitness 01:22:55 – Food 01:26:14 – Learning Multiple Languages
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1:31:18
EP-285 | Can AI detect lung cancer before it’s too late? | Top AI Researcher Dr. Swapnil Rane
How can AI be used to detect lung cancer early? Is there enough funding for healthcare in India? Are we seeing enough medical advancement and technology in the Indian healthcare system? Can AI models identify breast cancer at an early stage? And is AI better than humans regarding cancer diagnosis and therapy?In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Swapnil Rane, Professor of Pathology and AI Research Lead at the Tata Memorial Centre, answers these questions. He also shares how AI has the potential to revolutionise cancer diagnosis and treatment. According to him, AI can detect lung cancer at a very early stage, sometimes even before it becomes visible to the human eye.00:00 – Introduction00:50 – Lung Cancer in India10:24 – AI in Cancer Diagnosis13:32 – Health Insurance Sector16:59 – Cancer Trials Ecosystem23:32 – Use of AI in Medicine28:47 – AI vs Humans in Healthcare31:40 – Challenges faced by Doctors39:19 – Medical Technology in India43:08 – Data Privacy in Healthcare
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49:09
EP-284 | "Congress means भय, भ्रम, भ्रष्टाचार…" Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao
Arun Sao is currently serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. A lawyer by profession, he began his political journey in 1990 as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Over the years, he steadily rose through the ranks of the BJP, starting out as a booth-level worker. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Arun Sao levels serious corruption allegations against the previous Congress government. He also talks about the BJP government’s efforts to generate employment in Chhattisgarh. Additionally, he explains how Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh and shares insights on the current situation of Naxalism in the state.00:00 – Introduction00:46 – Anti-Naxal Operations09:17 – Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder15:41 – Water Crisis in Chhattisgarh19:29 – Bharatmala Project21:38 – 'Misuse of ED, CBI, I-T' charge25:26 – Chhattisgarh Civic Polls32:15 – High Command Culture in Political Parties36:33 – Goal of Gender Equality42:42 – Employment and Job Opportunities
ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash gets eminent people from different walks of life to talk about issues that impact you and society at large. Join Smita Prakash as she brings important voices from the field of politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. Dive in for a great listening experience brought to you by India’s largest news agency.
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