'Remove minister for equating Vande Mataram with dogs'

Agartala: Tripura's opposition Congress on Tuesday demanded removal of Higher Education Minister Anil Sarkar for his reportedly derogatory comments about India's national song and MPs. The minister, however, denied the allegations

'Sarkar, a veteran leader of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), equated India's national song Vande Mataram with a dog while giving a speech at a function here Monday,' Congress leader Ratan Lal Nath told reporters here.

Presenting video clippings of the minister's speech, Nath alleged that Sarkar had said at least 100 MPs are criminals.

Nath said that he would send a formal letter with documents to Chief Minister Manik Sarkar demanding removal of the minister from the cabinet for his offensive comments.

Congress's student wing National Students Union of India (NSUI) has also announced it will organise demonstrations across Tripura Wednesday against the minister's reported remarks, which appeared in a section of newspapers here Tuesday.

Sarkar denied the accusation.

'In my speech, I said the elocution of 'Vande Mataram' sung by some people was so wrong, that not only a human being, even a dog also becomes anxious,' said Sarkar in a statement.