NEWSX launches 'THE INSIDERS with KALYANI SHANKAR'

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NewsX has launched a brand new series titled ‘ The Insiders With Kalyani Shankar’ further boosting its programming lineup . ‘The Insiders’ is a series that provides viewers with an Insider's perspective on events and people who have shaped the discourse and direction of India.ï¿½

Hosted by ace political commentator, Kalyani Shankar, this series will provide groundbreaking insight into certain events of the past that shaped India and changed the course of our collective histories. The "Insiders" featured in this series are no ordinary people and have held key positions of power and have been ï¿½involved in policy and decision making processes. The events and people they talk about during the show are not ordinary either.ï¿½

From Pokhran-II to the 1971 Bangladesh War; from Kargil and the IC-814 hijack to the inception of insurgency in Kashmir; from the road to economic recovery in 1991 to when democracies collided with Mrs. Gandhi taking on the might of Nixon and the USA, ï¿½the show throws light on all these incidents that shaped our nation’s history.

Commenting on the launch Mr. Jehangir S. Pocha, Co-Promoter, NewsX said : “ ‘The Insiders re-examines key events that shaped modern India through Kalyani Shankar's free-wheeling and frank interviews with the key players involved in those events. ï¿½The show brings new light to these stories and gives the nation a greater understanding of the issues and decisions behind the events that shook the nation. ”

The show will feature the following episodes:

1971: INDIA'S FINEST HOUR

In 1971, there was a brutal crackdown in what was then East Pakistan against the Bengali population. Thousands of Bengali students and intellectuals were systematically murdered in cold blood by the Pakistani Army. Millions of refugees flooded India's borders and then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi knew she had to act and act she did - ordering the army into action for a campaign on India's eastern borders. This campaign, once launched was swift and effective. The war ended in just 13 days, after the Indian troops closed in on Dhaka. It was here that the instrument of surrender was signed and Gen. Niazi and his troops laid down their arms in what is regarded as history's first ever public surrender of such magnitude.

Spearheading the Indian army's operation on it's eastern front was Lt. Gen. Jacob. Hear the story of how the 1971 Bangladesh War was won from this insider. The episode also features interview with Inder Malhotra; a journalist who covered the 1971 war.

UNDER ATTACK

In 1999, India came under attack. In may of that year, a mix of Mujahideen and Pakistani army regulars took over strategic positions in our side of the LOC in Kashmir in an attempt to block the only road to Leh from Srinagar at the time. Then later, on Christmas eve, an Indian Airlines plane (IC-814) was hijacked by armed Pakistani terrorists who forced it to make its way to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Both situations were extremely tense and captured the imagination of the whole nation and world. The Vajpayee-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had to make some tough decisions in order to avoid loss of territory and life. Also, it let go of three terrorists who were in jail in J&K against the wishes of the then CM, Farooq Abdullah. This episode features interviews with Brajesh Mishra (Former National Security Advisor to the PM & Principal Secy. + Member of the CCS), Yashwant Sinha (Former Finance Minister + Member of the CCS) and ï¿½Farooq Abdullah (Former CM of J&K).

ROAD TO REFORMS

In 1991, when the Chandra Shekhar government took over, India was perched on the edge of an economic crisis. As Finance Minister at the time, Yashwant Sinha was the man entrusted to pull us out of the crisis and keep our economy afloat. As Foreign Secretary at the time, Muchkund Dubey was involved in this effort. Hear the story of how India was saved from going under and how the road to economic reforms was built, ï¿½from insiders - Yashwant Sinha (Former Finance Minister) and Muchkund Dubey (Former Foreign Secretary).

DEMOCRACIES COLLIDE

India-USA relations were at their all time low when Richard Nixon was President of the USA. He had nothing but contempt for Indira Gandhi and she was no big fan of his either. Their battle of wits is legendary and even India’s staunchest critics begrudgingly agree that Mrs. Gandhi did outfox Nixon during the time of the 1971 Bangladesh War. She not only built up public support for India against Pakistan but also inked the Indo-Russia Friendship Treaty, which guaranteed India a key ally in the Russians. Insiders M K Rasgotra, then India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington and later Foreign Secretary and Natwar Singh, former Minister of External Affairs, and someone who worked closely with Mrs. Gandhi provide the flavour of those times in this episode.

KASHMIR: INSURGENCY'S INCEPTION

On 2nd of July 1984, the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Jagmohan dismissed the then Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah. Many see this as the turning point in allowing militancy to rule the roost in the valley. Hear from both these insiders into the circumstances surrounding this action, and why peace has eluded the Kashmir valley ever since. Sparks will fly in this episode as both Jagmohan and Farooq Abdullah take each other head on – and spin the story of the inception of insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir – that sadly, continues unabated to this day.ï¿½