Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Vijay Shah faced calls for resignation in the assembly from the opposition Congress over his controversial remarks on Army officer Colonel Sofia Qureshi as he rose to reply to a question in the house.
The house was briefly adjourned after Congress members created a ruckus during the Question Hour and demanded the resignation of Mr. Shah, who holds the Bhopal gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation, public assets management and tribal affairs portfolios in the BJP government.
As soon as the BJP minister rose to reply to a query of Congress MLA Arif Masood regarding the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, opposition members were up on their feet, demanding the resignation or sacking of Mr. Shah for disrespecting a woman Army officer.
They trooped into the well of the house and shouted, Vijay Shah ‘istifa do (resign), Vijay Shah ko ‘barkhaast karo’ (sack him).
Speaker Narendra Tomar asked Congress MLAs to maintain calm and take their seats, but the opposition members ignored his advice and continued with their protest.
