Shashi Shekhar is the founder of AI for India, an initiative focused on building a strong ecosystem for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in the country. He is also the former CEO of Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster.

In this episode of the Podcast with Smita Prakash, Shashi Shekhar talks about the battle of narratives surrounding Operation Sindoor and how false narratives against India are often amplified in the West through misinformation and fake news.

He highlights the role of AI platforms in this ongoing narrative warfare. He also discusses the outreach efforts by the all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor and stresses the importance of strong engagement and clear communication of India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.

Shashi Shekhar further explains why the global Indian diaspora, along with film celebrities, sports personalities, and spiritual leaders, must take a moral stand and speak up in support of India’s narrative.

Audio Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:08 - Narrative wars of Operation Sindoor

08:37 - Fighting Fake Narrative

17:23 - Balakot: Facts vs Bias

24:56 - J-10 Hype & Narrative Building

31:08 - Religious Spin by Western Media

34:53 - The Karachi Bombing Confusion

39:18 - Social Media’s Impact on Conflict

46:44 - Indian-Origin Billionaires

01:02:41 - US-Pakistan Relations and Propaganda

01:06:21 - Does Public Opinion Affect Govt?

01:10:23 - Why Film Industry Quiet on India-Pak War?