New Delhi/Patna: The controversial BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh hit a new low on Wednesday with his shameful remark loaded with racism about Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Singh said it was the colour of Sonia Gandhi's skin that made her the Congress president.

Sitting among a group of his supporters in Hajipur, Singh asked, "If Rajiv Gandhi would've married a Nigerian and Sonia Gandhi wasn't white-skinned, would Congress have accepted her?"

Singh, who is known for his blistering statements, also raised questions on the disappearance of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and compared it to the missing Malaysian flight.

"If Congress had been in power instead of us and Rahul Gandhi was the Prime Minister and then, for some reason, he would have disappeared for 43-47 days, what would have happened? The entire Budget session got over but where is Rahul Gandhi?”

"The absence of Rahul Gandhi is like the disappearance of a Malaysian plane which has still not been located," said Singh.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat criticised Singh for his comments, saying his remark was derogatory and in full contempt of working women.

"This is racist and I strongly condemn it. How dare he make such racist statements? The entire statement shows the low level of public discourse," Karat said.

"In our country, there is no stringent code of conduct which can control such remarks. It is unfortunate. I think it is high time both parliament and the state assembly should consider it," she added.

Congress on Wednesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should publicly apologise for Singh's racist remark.

Congress leader R P N Singh said the BJP and its ministers were habitual of making such outlandish and condemnable comments.

"I strongly condemn the derogatory remarks used by a Union Minister against Smt. Sonia Gandhi. It is not just derogatory to Sonia Gandhi, but to the all women of this country. I think it has become a habit with BJP ministers to make these kinds of outlandish remarks. It is time for the Prime Minister who keeps saying that these kinds of remarks should not be made, but every week we had a remark made by some MP or some minister in the government. We seek apology from the Prime Minister," he said.

"And, I think, Giriraj Singh has been used to making these kinds of statements. And because he is a minister in the government, the Prime Minister must make a statement," he added.