<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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 FICCI here.</p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/bjp-will-lose-2024-polls-if-the-opposition-unites-says-wb-chief-minister-mamata-banerjee-1215049.html" target="_blank">BJP will lose 2024 polls if the Opposition unites, says WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee</a></strong></p>.<p>He also reiterated that India needs an opposition which is "not a friend" of the ruling party.</p>.<p>"You can find many people like that. Some do it boisterously and some do it quietly," he said.</p>.<p>"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).</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Referring to the TMC supremo, Swamy said it is "impossible to blackmail" her.</p>.<p>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. "</p>.<p>Referring to Hinduism, he said it is the longest-surviving religion in the world today. "With that, you have a broadminded attitude."</p>
<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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 FICCI here.</p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/bjp-will-lose-2024-polls-if-the-opposition-unites-says-wb-chief-minister-mamata-banerjee-1215049.html" target="_blank">BJP will lose 2024 polls if the Opposition unites, says WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee</a></strong></p>.<p>He also reiterated that India needs an opposition which is "not a friend" of the ruling party.</p>.<p>"You can find many people like that. Some do it boisterously and some do it quietly," he said.</p>.<p>"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).</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Referring to the TMC supremo, Swamy said it is "impossible to blackmail" her.</p>.<p>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. "</p>.<p>Referring to Hinduism, he said it is the longest-surviving religion in the world today. "With that, you have a broadminded attitude."</p>