Former minister and Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma has asked why should the age of marriage be increased when girls can reproduce at the age of 15.
His remarks come in the backdrop of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's proposal to increase the marriageable age for women from 18 to 21.
Verma said, "Doctors say that even a 15-years-old girl can reproduce, then what is the need to increase the marriage age of girls to 21 years? Has Shivraj become a bigger doctor".
At a 'Nari Samman' program on Monday, CM Chouhan had said that the marriage age of girls should be increased from 18 to 21 years.
Verma also accused the state BJP government for failing to protect minor girls.
"Madhya Pradesh tops in the number of rapes against minors. Instead of taking strict action in such cases, the chief minister is playing politics full of hypocrisy," he said, reported news agency PTI.
Sajjan's remarks were not well-received and people on social media schooled him for his insensitive comments:
His insensitive comments drew criticism with Madhya Pradesh BJP''s media panelist Neha Bagga said the MLA had insulted daughters of India.
"Did he forget that his party's president is a woman? Priyanka Gandhi is also a woman? I urge Sonia Gandhi to direct Verma to apologise in public and sack him from the party," PTI quoted her saying.