Latest news with #NDTVExclusive
NDTV
12-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"We Will Take Control Of Entire Gaza Strip If...": Israeli Envoy To NDTV On Netanyahu's Plan
New Delhi: Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has said that Tel Aviv can take control of the entire Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas and make sure the Palestinian group "can never attack again". Elaborating on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new "Gaza plan", Azaz said the military will first target Gaza city, where Hamas operations are believed to be centred. "Hamas has not given up its weapons. Our aims are very clear. We want to make sure that Hamas cannot attack us again. For that, they have to renounce their weapons and leave the Gaza Strip, and they have to bring back our hostages. Now, if they are unwilling to do this diplomatically, we'll have to take military action. And this is exactly what we're going to do," he said while talking to NDTV. Last week, Israeli PM Netanyahu said Israel plans to widen its coming offensive beyond Gaza City to the last areas not yet under Israeli control, and where most of Gaza's 2 million residents have sought shelter as the territory slides toward famine. #NDTVExclusive | In this exclusive conversation, NDTV's Gaurie Dwivedi (@GaurieD) speaks to Israel Ambassador to India Reuven Azar (@ReuvenAzar) on Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu's plan to takeover Gaza city. — NDTV (@ndtv) August 11, 2025 Azar said the exact date and timelines to put the plan in action are not finalised yet, but the military planning for it is underway. "I think that we don't have a date for the commencement, but we know this is going to be a long operation because we are talking here about a city. And we know from taking (control of) Rafah and from taking the northern part of the Gaza Strip, places like Jabalia and Beit Hanoun, that Hamas is booby-trapping every street and every edifice," the envoy said. Talking about the plan, he said the Israeli military will "take the population" out of areas that will be targeted and rehabilitate them in designated areas in the southern Gaza Strip, where they can get access to humanitarian assistance--from food to medical services. "There are a lot of underground have to destroy all these structures because they are booby-trapping," he said. "So all of that is being planned because we want to minimise civilian casualties. But we are determined, we don't have any choice. We have to defend ourselves. We won't agree for Hamas to come back to pose a menace to our borders, to our communities, to our people. And therefore, if they don't want to stop the war, which can happen today, if they renounce their weapons, they have been defeated. They don't have the military machinery that they had before." When it was pointed out that the new plan has also sparked controversy in Israel, with families of the remaining hostages fearing another military escalation could doom their loved ones, the Israeli envoy assured the plan would work. "We've seen that in a combination of military pressure and diplomacy, we have been able to retrieve 205 hostages, 148 of them alive. So this system of putting military pressure and negotiating has borne fruit," he said. Israel's Gaza Plan Israel announced last week its plans to take over Gaza City, where it has already carried out major raids and heavy bombardment throughout the war. On Sunday, Netanyahu told a news conference that operations would be expanded into the 'central camps" and beyond. He appeared to be referring to the built-up Nuseirat and Bureij camps in central Gaza that date back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Israel has carried out near-daily airstrikes in the camps since the start of the war, but no major ground operations. Netanyahu referred to Gaza City, the central camps and Muwasi — a vast cluster of displacement camps along the coast — as Hamas strongholds. These areas, along with the central city of Deir al-Balah, are the only parts of Gaza that have not been almost completely destroyed in previous Israeli operations. They are also areas where Hamas may be holding hostages in tunnels or other secret locations.
NDTV
08-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Spiritual Leader Aniruddhacharya Reacts To His Viral Video, Says Saints Are Being Opposed
Famous spiritual leader and Katha Vachak Aniruddhacharya, in an exclusive conversation with NDTV, addressed the controversy surrounding his viral video. He claimed the uproar was sparked by presenting only a small, edited portion of his full statement. "The original video is six minutes long, but only a 30-second clip is being circulated," he said. Aniruddhacharya emphasised that his remarks must be understood in proper context, not twisted for controversy. Acknowledging that his choice of words, particularly the village expression "mukh maarna", may have been inappropriate, he argued that the core message remained valid. Watch the video here: #NDTVExclusive | 'गांव की आम भाषा में चरित्रहीनता को मुंह मारना ही कहा जाता है' कथावाचक अनिरुद्धाचार्य से NDTV की Exclusive बातचीत @ranveer_sh | #Aniruddhacharya — NDTV India (@ndtvindia) August 8, 2025 Hindu Saints Are Being Opposed He further questioned why other spiritual leaders like Premanand Ji Maharaj, whose words were respectful, also faced backlash. "This shows the opposition is not against language but against Hindu saints," he stated. Aniruddhacharya further said, "My video was shown in an incomplete manner, which led to the controversy. If the full video is watched, my message will become clear. I had urged both men and women to be of good character. Whatever I said in the vernacular dialect was meant to convey 'characterlessness'." Aniruddhacharya said that there is a conspiracy to defame Sanatan Dharma. He questioned why live-in relationships are being glorified and added, "My words hit the right target." He further said, "I am not educated at all. In Sanatan Dharma, daughters were never suppressed. All social evils entered India during the Mughal era." When asked about Akhilesh Yadav's displeasure, he responded, "He should explain how saints are expected to stay happy. It's not my words being opposed; it's the saints." Aniruddhacharya added that he is speaking based on scriptures, and those who oppose him should attend Changur Baba's satsang. He also claimed that respected saints like Rambhadracharya and Premanand Maharaj are not against him. #NDTVExclusive | 'बॉलीवुड के लोग बड़े हैं जो गुटखे का प्रचार कर रहे हैं... दाने-दाने में है केसर का दम' - कथावाचक अनिरुद्धाचार्य से NDTV की Exclusive बातचीत @ranveer_sh | #Aniruddhacharya — NDTV India (@ndtvindia) August 8, 2025 Scathing attack on Bollywood Responding to questions about his controversial remarks, Aniruddhacharya criticised Bollywood, questioning whether the film industry has not disrespected Lord Krishna. Referring to a popular dialogue, "Tum karo to Rasleela, hum karein to character dheela", he accused Bollywood of hypocrisy. He also slammed film stars for endorsing products like pan masala and gutkha, saying, "They say 'daane-daane mein hai kesar ka dum', but these harmful products should be banned by the government." He added, "No one objects to them promoting gutkha, but I'm being targeted for speaking my truth."
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"We Will Lead AI Like We Led IT": Nara Lokesh On Creating Job Opportunities
Ahead of Andhra Pradesh's Mega Parent-Teacher Meet (PTM) 2.0, which will have the participation of over 2 crore people from across the state on a single day, NDTV spoke to state IT Minister Nara Lokesh about the state's efforts to transform education from KG to PG, tackle gender stereotypes from primary classrooms, and adapt parenting for the digital age. Here's the full interview: How are you preparing youth to be more job-ready? Answer- I have the unique distinction of handling both Bharat and India-education for Bharat, and IT and electronics for India. It's not just about educating our youth but also about creating job opportunities. So we are revamping our curriculum from KG to PG to make it future- and skills-ready. #NDTVExclusive | Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh (@naralokesh) speaks exclusively to NDTV's @vasudha156 and @tmvraghav on new education policy, language row and the mega PTM 2.0. — NDTV (@ndtv) July 9, 2025 With initiatives like the upcoming Quantum Valley in Amaravati and the rise of AI and machine learning, we need to upskill our young population. Under Mr Naidu's leadership, the Telugu community led the IT revolution. Now, we must prepare them for the next wave-in AI, ML, and quantum computing. Q: What is your approach under the Taliki Vandanam scheme? It began during my padayatra. I noticed deeply rooted gender stereotypes, even in early education. When I became minister, I reviewed first and second grade textbooks. All household work was shown being done by women. I asked-why should it be this way? My wife Brahmani and I lived in the US and shared responsibilities equally. I believe such values must start from primary education. So, we changed visuals in textbooks, and we're speaking out against phrases like "don't cry like a girl" or "are you wearing bangles?" Taliki Vandanam is more than a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. It's about instilling respect for mothers and women. The Mega PTM is part of this broader cultural shift-to get blessings from mothers and honour them in society. Q: Were you ever scared of PTMs as a schoolboy? Lokesh: I'm my mother's son. My father was usually away, so my mother raised me. She attended the PTMs, and I was quite a naughty child. So yes, I got a proper scolding at home afterwards! Q: Do you support the National Education Policy, especially the three-language formula? Lokesh: Absolutely. The TDP's support for the Prime Minister is unconditional. We believe in his leadership. When I met Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhanji, he emphasised the importance of mother tongue-not Hindi imposition. We support teaching multiple languages-three, four, or even five. Job markets are global, and we are teaching Japanese, German, and more. We should embrace Hindi too-it's our national language, and we have no objection. Q: But does the three-language policy threaten the Telugu identity? Lokesh: Not at all. Why are we pitting languages against one another? That's politically motivated. Our conversation with the Centre is about strengthening education in the mother tongue. Language isn't a threat-it's a bridge. The more languages our children learn, the stronger our unity as a nation. Q: How has parenting changed over generations? What's the biggest challenge today? Lokesh: Earlier, joint families taught us to share, serve elders, and communicate. Today, with nuclear families and work stress, children are often raised by Instagram or Inshorts. Socialization has moved online. We still live in a joint family, and I encourage all parents to involve grandparents. That generational value transfer is crucial. As a nation, we must revive the strength of family systems.
NDTV
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Kamal Haasan To NDTV On His Bond With Thug Life Director Mani Ratnam: "We Started Collaborating 50 Years Back"
New Delhi: In an exclusive interview with NDTV, cinematic legends Kamal Haasan, AR Rahman, and Silambarasan TR offered a glimpse into their much-anticipated film Thug Life, directed by the iconic Mani Ratnam. The film marks a landmark reunion between Haasan and Ratnam-coming together after 38 years since their cult classic Nayakan. But Thug Life, as Haasan hints, is no ordinary action film. "Audiences won't remember it solely as an action film," he said, alluding to deeper thematic undertones. On why this reunion took decades, Haasan reflected: "We started collaborating 50 years back... It's a continuous collaboration. Even when we weren't making films together, we were independently making our dream films-part of the same intellectual family." For music maestro A.R. Rahman, Thug Life is nothing short of an artistic event. Describing the collaboration with Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan as "epic," Rahman said he approached the project with an international lens. "Mani Ratnam treats cinema as art. There are no cultural boundaries." The soundtrack, Rahman added, is designed to be immersive and unpredictable-pushing creative limits. #NDTVExclusive: Kamal Haasan and A R Rahman on NDTV Ahead of the release of multi-starrer pan-Indian action film Thug Life, NDTV's Radhika Ramaswamy (@radhika1705) speaks to legendary actor Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan), music maestro AR Rahman (@arrahman), and the ever-versatile… — NDTV (@ndtv) May 24, 2025 Silambarasan TR (Simbu), who shares screen space with Haasan for the first time, called the experience a "continuous learning process." "Working with legends like Mani sir, Kamal sir and Rahman sir is a masterclass in itself," he said, balancing his roles as performer and student on set. The film's core message, according to Haasan, is a philosophical reflection on crime: "Crime doesn't pay-however much it pays." Rahman and Kamal Haasan also offered insights into the industry's transformation. Rahman views his career as a perpetual learning process. "I get paid to learn. Expanding my knowledge is what keeps me going," he said, while adding that his approach transcends traditional boundaries, and that he sees music as a constantly expanding universe of creativity. The conversation also highlighted the ongoing debate about cinema's future. While OTT platforms have gained significant traction, the actor and music director unanimously celebrated the magic of theatrical experiences. "Congregation is key," Haasan remarked, referring to the collective magic of moviegoing. Rahman echoed this sentiment, noting how the COVID-19 lockdown underscored the value of shared experiences. "It taught us the joy of coming together, which is why live shows are thriving again," he said. On the impact of modern technologies and short attention spans, Haasan offered a grounded take: "As long as performers remain true to their craft and approach their work without hubris, they will continue to thrive, even in an AI-driven world." Simbu added a younger generation's viewpoint, acknowledging that while audiences may scroll more, Thug Life is designed to hold their gaze. "We've made a film that will keep you off your phones," he said. Set for a global release on June 5, Thug Life promises to be more than just a film-it's a bold creative collaboration between some of Indian cinema's most influential voices. With a gripping narrative, visual scale, and music already making waves, the film is poised to leave a lasting mark.
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
US Role In India-Pak Ceasefire Not Mediation: Shashi Tharoor Explains Why
New Delhi: Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor on Sunday weighed in on US President Donald Trump claiming credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, suggesting it was "not mediation" but US efforts at playing a constructive role. Trump had on Saturday evening claimed that the US had mediated between India and Pakistan, and the two neighbours had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Within an hour, both countries officially announced the ceasefire. Mr Tharoor called it a "very unfortunate way of proceeding", in a remark to NDTV hours after his party's former chief and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi underlined that Trump first announced the ceasefire in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Watch full interview: #NDTVExclusive | "Kinetic hostility not India's doing": Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) to NDTV's @maryashakil — NDTV (@ndtv) May 11, 2025 "I think that's a very unfortunate way of proceeding. I have certainly never seen anything like that in international diplomacy," said the MP from Thiruvananthapuram who had served at the UN. Mr Tharoor pointed out that foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan have been posting online about their conversations with foreign leaders over the past few days. "Let me be blunt about spoke to Secretary Rubio. Then he (Rubio) spoke with the foreign minister of Pakistan. These kinds of contacts were going on throughout these three or four days of the conflict. But that doesn't mean that India was requesting mediation," he said. The former diplomat suggested that India's conversations with the US cannot be termed as mediation, but a constructive role played by Washington. "That's not mediation. That is the Americans trying to play a constructive role. If they or any other country did that, (that's) great. Frankly, the US was not the only country. Jaishankar has been speaking to the foreign ministers of the UAE, UK, or France (as well)," he added. The fact, he said, is that such conversations often include other nations talking to both sides, in which they apprise each country of the other's side. "That is not the same as Trump claiming credit for mediation because India would have never sought mediation, doesn't mean mediation, and I think would never accept the idea that we have in any way accepted foreign mediation in a conflict that we are perfectly capable of handling ourselves," added Mr Tharoor. Trump had congratulated India and Pakistan in a post on his Truth Social platform for the ceasefire that he claimed was mediated by the United States. "After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter," he wrote on Truth Social. A day later, he said he was proud of the "strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership" of the two countries for agreeing to the halt in aggression. "I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision," he claimed. He also offered to work with the two neighbours to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. While an Indian government reaction to his offer is awaited, it may be pointed out that New Delhi has always stressed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and opposed any third-party mediation. The ceasefire followed three nights of intense cross-border firing and drone and missile attacks from Pakistan after Indian forces carried out Operation Sindoor, striking terror targets deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack. With Indian forces bombing Pakistani airfields in retaliation, Pakistan incurred a heavy cost for the provocation.
