India Today Conclave 2014 in pics

"History has gatecrashed this event many times in the past. This time, we have gatecrashed or more correctly invited ourselves to history," said Aroon Puri.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav speaks on Identity Politics versus Development Agenda at the India Today Conclave 2014.

Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party PM nominee Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that only a man with a big heart can be India's PM which Modi does not have.

Yadav said, "I do not see any Modi wave in UP. Though they are drawing crowds in UP undoubtedly, but that would not result in seats."

Former Union Minister Arun Shourie speaks on Why the Government Has No Business to Be in Business India Today Conclave 2014.

Shourie said, "Any government that comes in the Centre has two illusions. One that it can change the public sector enterprises and the other being that it will improve relations with Pakistan."

"Record speaks for itself that the government has no hand to be in business," he said.

Vedanta Resources Executive Chairman Anil Agarwal and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma speak on How India Can Win the Next Decade: Give Us Growth, Jobs and a Dash of Decisions at the India Today Conclave 2014.

"It is high time for us to look at our natural resources and manufacturing. The Indian import bill was $500 billion. All this material we imported we have the capability to manufacture and create new employment," Anil Agarwal said.

Vedanta Resources Executive Chairman Anil Agarwal and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma in conversation with each other.

Director of CBI Ranjit Sinha speaks on Central Bureau of Independence: Can Institutional Integrity Be Protected? at the India Today Conclave 2014. He said the investigating agency does not toe the line of political masters as it is governed by laws from the statute.

Arvind Panagariya, professor of economics at Columbia University in the US and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission speak on High Growth or High Dole: What Comes First? at India Today Conclave 2014.

"I think planning has become our habit. We should break that habit. We are in a market economy. It has to be planned but not by the Planning Commissions, but by the ministries. Even in China, the National Planning Commission is now called National Reforms Commission. It is time for a rethink on such institutions," Arvind Panagariya said at the sessio.

Comedian and author Maysoon Zayid held the audience in thrall at the 13th India Today Conclave  with her stand-up comic performance.

A Palestinian-American, Zayid had the audience in splits when she said she's a bit like Muhammad Ali, the boxer, and a bit of Shakira at the same time since she shakes constantly, an effect of cerebral palsy, a condition she has to suffer due to medical negligence during her birth.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal speak on The Winning Mantra: Who Will Win the Battle of 2014 at the India Today Conclave 2014.

The Rajasthan CM tore into the Congress's claim of achievements saying that MNREGS had made people lazy by giving them doles. On the much-touted Congress claim on the Right to Food, she said the money meant for people was not reaching them.

Sibal said he did not know who (of the BJP and Congress) had the winning mantra. There are two versions, he said, adding that the TV cameras were showing the writing on the wall while what people have in their eyes will only be revealed on May 16.

Actor Ranveer Singh, Sitar player Niladri Kumar, LJP leader Chirag Paswan and Hindustan Powerprojects Pvt Ltd Chairman Ratul Puri delve into topic 'How to be Bold and Brave' at the India Today Conclave 2014.

India must develop infrastructure and skilling to fully exploit its potential, said Hindustan Powerprojects Pvt Ltd Chairman Ratul Puri. "Over obsession with corruption and shrill rhetoric on corruption are hurting us as a nation. If we don't do anything, we will create a lot of challenges for us," he said.

Niladri Kumar, creator of the zitar, a cross between a sitar and a guitar, said he invented the instrument since he anted to take classical music to the youth.

"I did not try to break anything. I wanted to find my voice, I wanted to find out  I can do with all that classical heritage I have. The sitar retains its place but there was need was to do more. I was trying to reach out to youth with a voice they could connect to," he said as played on his red zitar the tune of Crazy kiya re... from Dhoom 2 and blended it with Indian classical music.

Ranveer made Chirag shake a leg with him to the song, 'Jo jita wahi sikander'.

AREVA Chairperson Anne Lauvergeon speaks on The Critical Question: Why India Needs Nuclear Power at the India Today Conclave 2014.

Micromax Co-Founder Rahul Sharma and Didier Lombard, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, STMicroelectronics, speak on Soft Power or Difficult Destination: Is India Inc Still Incredible? at the India Today Conclave 2014.

Narrating his company's journey from nowhere to where they are, Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma said small incidents inspired them to make their first mobile handset in 2008.

Didier Lombard said, "We are at the cusp of a second digital revolution. Comparing India with Europe, we would realise we have similar questions in technology."

Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor and Author Ahmed Rashid speak on Battleground Afghanistan: Can India Outflank Pakistan? at the India Today Conclave 2014.

India is not interested in proxy wars, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor said replying to Pakistani author-journalist Ahmed Rashid's remark that proxy wars have to end referring to Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan.

Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, BJP General Secretary Amit Shah and Aam Aadmi Party member Manish Sisodia speak on Special Election Zone: Win Uttar Pradesh, Win India at the India Today Conclave 2014.

Speaking about Uttar Pradesh, Amit Shah said, "Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that the way to Delhi passes through Lucknow. And I can see it happening this time."

Manish Sisodiainteracts with the panel members at the India Today Conclaev 2014.

Amitabh Bachchan attended the India Today Conclave 2014 to speak on The Entertainment Element: Cinema as the Mirror of Society.

Big B interacts with the guests at the India Today Conclave 2014.