India needs oppn that is not afraid of ruling party; Mamata should be PM: Subramanian Swamy
Kolkata, May 9: Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Subramanian Swamy said on Tuesday that the country needs a genuine opposition which is not afraid of the ruling party.
Describing West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee as someone who cannot be "blackmailed", he said she should be the prime minister of India.
"I do think that the country needs a genuine opposition which cannot be blackmailed by people in power," Swamy said while speaking at an interactive session organised by FLO, the women's wing of FICCI, here.
"I know a lot of people today. They will not go beyond a point against the present government. Because they are afraid that ED will turn up or something else will turn up. That's not good for Indian democracy," the BJP leader said.
He also reiterated that India needs an opposition which is "not a friend" of the ruling party.
"You can find many people like that. Some do it boisterously and some do it quietly," he said.
"Mamata Banerjee should be the prime minister of India. She is a gutsy woman. Look at how she fought the communists. I met her 10 days ago but nobody knows (that)," Swamy said, adding that he knows her since she was fighting the CPI(M).
Asked about what transpired between Banerjee and him in that meeting, he said it was on how 2024 would be and what would be the shape of the economy then.
Referring to the TMC supremo, Swamy said it is "impossible to blackmail" her.
Asked about his opinion on the most powerful woman in the country today, the former MP said, "There was a time Jayalalitha could have been; there was a time when I thought of Mayawati. In the present situation...Mamata Banerjee. She is the only woman leader who has the guts to stand up. She is not complicit. "
Referring to Hinduism, he said it is the longest-surviving religion in the world today. "With that, you have a broadminded attitude."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Cong functionary arrested on POCSO charges
Bengaluru (PTI): A Congress functionary has been arrested on POCSO charges for alleged inappropriate behaviour with a 16-year-old minor girl.
The 40-year-old complainant has also accused the Congress functionary Anand P of assault, criminal intimidation and coercion, police said.
According to the FIR, Anand allegedly used to visit his house and developed an illicit relationship with his wife.
When he questioned their relationship, his wife and Anand allegedly assaulted him and attempted to kill him. The complaint also alleges repeated acts of violence against the children, police said.
The accused and the complainant’s wife allegedly assaulted the children multiple times with sticks and stabbed them with a knife, causing bleeding injuries, according to the FIR.
The complainant claimed to possess photographic evidence of the incidents, and he alleged inappropriate behaviour by Anand towards his minor daughter.
“Anand has also inappropriately touched my 16-year-old daughter and indecently spoken to her,” the FIR quoted him as saying.
Police said the complaint further accused Anand P of criminal intimidation and coercion in property matters.
Police said a case has been registered based on the complaint, and further investigation is underway.
