'Fearless' Indira Gandhi was 'foremost manly-man' in Cabinet: Congress

The Congress Party on Wednesday backed the views of Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu for calling former prime minister Indira Gandhi as the 'most powerful Prime Minister of the country', saying that her readiness to take responsibility of even the extreme kind on her shoulders literally made her the foremost 'manly-man' in the Cabinet.

"I don't think there are two views in this country.certainly the most decisive leader in India has been Indira Gandhi. Her determination in the face of adversity, her prompt pointed and focus decision making, her readiness to take the responsibility of even the extreme kind on her shoulders literally made her the foremost manly-man in a Cabinet because she was fearless," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI here.

He further said Prabhu is a technocrat and a straight forward man, adding he is merely repeating a universal truth by making this comment.

Speaking at a Railway programme for women yesterday, Prabhu said, "US still does not have a woman President yet. But we have had women as President, Lok Sabha Speaker and Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi was the most powerful PM in the country."

"There are so many women employees in railways, who are doing well. Generally, women do it better wherever they are," he said.

Prabhu said the Women's Day is not only just a day to be celebrated but it is a day for every individual to pledge to move from talk to purposeful action. He further said that achievements and efficiency of women need to be recognized at all levels.

He also asked the women in railways to set new benchmarks so that it becomes an example for men to follow.