Minister sacked for Prez slur

Rajasthan minister Amin Khan, who had made unsavoury remarks about President Pratibha Patil, lost his post on Thursday.

Rajasthan minister Amin Khan, who had made unsavoury remarks about President Pratibha Patil, lost his post on Thursday.

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Khan, minister of state for panchayati raj and Waqf, submitted his resignation to chief minister Ashok Gehlot around 9.30am. Later, Governor Shivraj Patil accepted it.

At a meeting of Congress workers in Pali on Tuesday, Khan had said the President had been rewarded with the country's top post because she "used to cook and wash utensils" for former prime minister Indira Gandhi after Indira lost the 1977 Lok Sabha polls.

He added that she had been rewarded for her loyalty to the former prime minister.

The remarks of the MLA from Shiv constituency in Barmer forced Gehlot to rush to New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the issue with All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders.

Sources said the opinion was clear: Khan had to go.

Khan said: "I have all respect for the President of India and had no intention to show disrespect."

He said he had been trying to explain the virtues of patience and loyalty to party workers who were disappointed over not getting positions in the party or in the Congress run administration quickly enough.

However, his remarks blew up on his face with Gehlot saying Khan was asked to resign as he had failed to uphold the dignity of office of the President.

Rajasthan Congress president and union minister CP Joshi also failed to see the lesson Khan apparently was trying to give to party workers and said his remarks were unfortunate and had saddened the party.