IDEA EXCHANGE NEWS
Cheteshwar Pujara at Idea Exchange: ‘No regrets missing out on IPL contracts, but feel proud about performing in difficult conditions, playing 100 Tests’
The lead act in India's maiden conquest of Australia, the brave-heart in the 2021 heist, the stonewaller that made stroke-makers blossom around him for 15 years and disillusioned some of the toughest bowlers in the world, he has left an indelible imprint in Indian cricket.
Asaduddin Owaisi at Idea Exchange: ‘For so-called secular parties, we are only good for iftar parties, Ajmer chadar… (today) anyone can marginalise the Muslim community’
A barrister from London’s Lincoln’s Inn, he is one of the fiercest critics of the Narendra Modi government in the Opposition ranks and has slammed the three amendment bills introduced in Parliament
John Abraham at Idea Exchange: ‘In the name of being secular, you can’t be making controversial films. But biased films finding an audience is worrisome’
John Abraham, who turned producer with Vicky Donor in 2012, has backed several films since, including in Malayalam and Marathi. A fitness icon, co-owner of the football club NorthEast United and an animal activist, Abraham’s latest film, Tehran, dropped on Zee5 last week.
Jyotiraditya Scindia at Idea Exchange: ‘You criticise the EC, call our economy dead, mock the judiciary… good luck to you’Subscriber Only
During his tenure as Union Minister of Civil Aviation (2021 to 2024), the number of airports in the country increased from 74 to 157. He also served as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the Manmohan Singh government
Gaurav Gogoi at Idea Exchange: ‘Victims want to hear an honest admission of government’s responsibility… Nehru is not to blame for Pahalgam’Subscriber Only
With Assembly elections in Assam just months away, Gogoi will be in the thick of action formulating strategies to dethrone the BJP in the state, where the Congress has been out of power for 10 years
Nagesh Kukunoor at Idea Exchange: ‘The climate has lent itself to many lawsuits, making it more terrifying for filmmakers’Subscriber Only
Prominent director-writer Nagesh Kukunoor’s latest web series, The Hunt- The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case on SonyLIV, has received widespread appreciation for its deft handling of politically sensitive events that shook the nation.
Kanhaiya Kumar at Idea Exchange: ‘In the Opposition, you will see a reluctance to protect their base vote’Subscriber Only
AICC in-charge of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Kanhaiya Kumar is expected to play a key role for the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar
Ram Madhav at Idea Exchange: ‘Any economic ideology benefitting the last man is priority. That’s why India could do away with absolute poverty’Subscriber Only
An author and president of a think tank, India Foundation, his latest book is The New World: 21st Century Global Order and India, which focusses on building brand Bharat and where we should be headed
CR Patil at Idea Exchange: ‘The Nal Se Jal scheme is to provide water, not for some contractor to make money’Subscriber Only
A four-time MP, he has been part of several Standing Committees, including the Standing Committee on Defence and Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare
Ravi Shankar Prasad at Idea Exchange: ‘No leader can dare to impose an Emergency. That’s the biggest positive consequence of that struggle’Subscriber Only
Prasad, who was arrested under MISA during student protests and had spent several months in detention, has been a vehement critic of the Emergency led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
Hervé Delphin at Idea Exchange: ‘EU-India is not just a relationship, it’s become a tangible commodity’Subscriber Only
Hervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to India, on how the EU-India partnership has made global ties more compelling and where Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Iran conflicts are headed
Srinath Raghavan at Idea Exchange: ‘Institutional rules of the game were considerably weakened even before the Emergency’Subscriber Only
Historian and scholar Srinath Raghavan analyses Indira Gandhi’s political career and the momentous changes that India experienced under her leadership in his new book Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India
Montek Singh Ahluwalia at Idea Exchange: ‘China challenged the US and what’s been unleashed is the weaponisation of tariffs’Subscriber Only
Drawing on his decades-long experience at the intersection of politics and economics, he now unpacks what the new phase of global geopolitics and trade tensions could mean for India.
Kuldeep Yadav at Idea Exchange: ‘I was shocked when Rohit & Virat bhai retired. You want the seniors to stay for the big series’Subscriber Only
As the team embarks on a five-Test tour of England, a place not known to be too favourable to tweakers, his role would be crucial as English batsmen have historically struggled against bowlers of his ilk
Jawed Ashraf at Idea Exchange: ‘Managing foreign policy isn’t just analysis behind closed doors… It now plays out on your phone screen, shaped by people’s voices’Subscriber Only
In recognition of his contributions to strengthening Indo-French relations, he will be awarded the Commander of the Legion of Honour, one of France’s top civilian honours
Shahnawaz Hussain at Idea Exchange: ‘Opposition support is not a favour. It is every citizen’s duty to be on India’s side’Subscriber Only
A former Union Minister and ex-MP from Bihar for three terms, Hussain has been national president of BJP’s minority wing in the past and has been the party’s voice and face — from Patna to Delhi.
Philipp Ackermann at Idea Exchange: ‘Pahalgam is a game changer in many ways. It is an attack on the heart of India’Subscriber Only
As India and Germany complete 25 years of their strategic partnership, Ackermann has been instrumental in strengthening bilateral relations and putting India front and centre of German foreign policy
Kiren Rijiju at Idea Exchange: ‘Those opposing Waqf are the powerful voices among the Muslims… We are not bothered about them’Subscriber Only
As Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, a four-time MP from Arunachal Pradesh, who tabled the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill, has been very vocal in defending the recent changes passed by Parliament
Lt General (retd) DS Hooda at Idea Exchange: ‘The horrific attack on tourists, selection of place, planning… this seems a deliberate escalation by Pakistan’Subscriber Only
Former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd) spearheaded the 2016 surgical strike across the LoC. During his four-decade-long career in the Indian Army, he navigated strategic challenges on the borders along China and Pakistan.
Baijayant Panda at Idea Exchange: ‘Some protests are happening but a much wider section of society is convinced by Waqf reform’Subscriber Only
Baijayant Panda is the BJP’s national vice-president and Lok Sabha MP from Kendrapara, Odisha. He is also the Chairman of the Select Committee on the proposed Income Tax Bill
Anantha Nageswaran at Idea Exchange: ‘Lowering cost of doing business, making it easier to operate in domestic economy, will help absorb tariffs’Subscriber Only
As India faces a 26 per cent (10 per cent now) import tariff by the United States, Nageswaran, who will be in the CEA’s chair till March 2027, turns the lens inwards, looking at India’s inherent strengths. With his eyes on the ball, he points to this global imbalance as an opportunity to reconfigure traditional economic models and strengthen strategic partnerships
Ricky Ponting at Idea Exchange: ‘Dhoni may be only one in IPL who doesn’t seek advice from the dugout ’Subscriber Only
During his playing days, Ricky Ponting was one of the most feared batters and captained a hugely successful Australian side, leading the nation to two World Cup titles (2003 and 2007).
Palanivel Thiaga Rajan at Idea Exchange: ‘It’s not about NEP…can you teach enough children one language properly in UP, Bihar?’Subscriber Only
Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, also known as PTR, is one of the most articulate voices in the Dravidian politics of his party, the DMK, making a case against the Centre’s impending delimitation of constituencies and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)
Abhay Karandikar at Idea Exchange: ‘We need to not only be technologically self-reliant but also develop solutions that are disruptive and game-changing’Subscriber Only
Abhay Karandikar, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science & Technology, is leading efforts to upgrade the quality of scientific research in the country
Walter J Lindner at Idea Exchange: ‘India is the only country with a good relationship with Putin & Zelenskyy… If we need big weight, it is the first choice’Subscriber Only
Been Germany’s ambassador to India from 2019 to 2022, Lindner is out with a book, What the West Should Learn From India: Insights from a German Diplomat. Amid the uncertainty in contemporary global politics, the book contextualises the rise of India as well as the challenges it confronts
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