Jaipur:
It's not clear what Amin Khan was trying to make when he addressed a meeting of Congress workers in Pali district of Rajasthan that President Pratibha Patil was made President of the country because of her service to the Congress party, which included cooking and cleaning dishes in the kitchen of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The remarks - predictably - created a huge controversy. The BJP asked the Congress government in Rajasthan to sack Mr. Khan. Today, he has resigned.
Mr. Khan has tried to say that his remarks were misunderstood. "I don't know why all this confusion is being spread. I have only praised Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and the President."
The BJP said Mr. Khan's comments were offensive on two counts. "The Minister's remarks are a reflection of the sycophantic culture of the Congress party. But these remarks that denigrate the country's President can't be tolerated," said Arun Chaturvedi, BJP President, Rajasthan.
It wasn't just the opposition that was outraged. The Congress High Command in Delhi reportedly ordered Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to ensure Mr. Khan found his way out of the government.
Pratibha Patil was the Governor of Rajasthan when she was chosen by the Congress to be the country's President in July 2007.