Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday defended charging money from party workers to attend Narendra Modi’s rallies. “What is wrong with that? People are ready to give. Nobody is forced,” Mr Swamy told reporters. “Mahatama Gandhi used to do it...for his autographs he used to take `5. Congressmen take money and put it in their pocket but our people take money and put it in party account,” Mr Swamy claimed.
Asked about the possibility of his contesting Lok Sabha poll from Mumbai, Mr Swamy said, “I can’t decide on that... he party will have to decide. The house belonging to my in-laws is here. I have been elected from here twice. That is why, there is an attachment.”
On senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and Nitish Kumar greeting each other warmly at the National Integration Council meet on Monday, Mr Swamy said, “I don’t think in a democratic society you should hesitate to meet leaders of other parties even if you don’t agree with them. I would be happy to meet communist leaders if I am attending a meeting and they are there.” Asked about impact of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Maharashtra, Mr Swamy said, “Wherever he goes, our vote share will double. We want him to go across the country.”
***
Hungerstrike to protest indifference against mumbra
Mumbai: NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad has announced an indefinite hunger strike against the government’s failure to implement the cluster development scheme in the Mumbra suburb of Thane. “Despite repeated reminders and representations, the government has failed to begin implementation of the programme and I will start a hunger trike in protest from October 4. We will also take out a long march to Mantralaya as a part of the protest. Buildings in Mumbra are collapsing now and then, which is still not sufficient for the government to wake up to the dangerous situation. Other parties should also join this agitation and
stem this danger posed by weak buildings. Different corporations should be formed for the repair of the dilapidated of these buildings. Only meetings and talks will not help. It is time to act,” said Mr Awhad addressing a press conference.
A five-storey residential building in Mumbra came
crashing down early Saturday morning, killing three
people.