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."

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Manchester, Jul 27 (PTI): Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill struck fine hundreds as India secured a morale-boosting draw in the 4th Test here on Sunday.

The stalemate was achieved after Gill (103), Rahul (90), Jadeja (107 not out), and Washington (101 not out) fired with the bat on a fifth day pitch after India started their second innings 311 runs in arrears.

England lead the series 2-1 heading into the fifth and final Test.

For skipper Gill, this was his fourth century of the ongoing rubber as he became the first Asian batter to cross 700 runs in a Test series in England.

Earlier in the day, opener Rahul was dismissed by Ben Stokes for a doughty 90, ending a 188-run partnership for the third wicket with Gill.

Resuming the day on 174 for two and with a deficit of 137 runs, overnight batter Gill completed his hundred before falling to Jofra Archer just before lunch at Old Trafford.

Brief scores:

India: 358 and 425/4 in 143 overs (KL Rahul 90, Shubman Gill 103, Ravindra Jadeja 107, Washington Sundar 101; Chris Woakes 2/67)

England 1st innings: 669 all out in 157.1 overs (Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 141, Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 4/143).