Chandigarh, Aug. 7 -- A remark by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Pathankot Ashwani Sharma during a discussion on illegal mining triggered a political storm in the Punjab assembly on Thursday, with ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members accusing him of making a sexist and insensitive comment about the birth of a girl child.

The controversy erupted during the fourth day of the monsoon session when mines and geology minister Barinder Goyal blamed the Union government for allegedly withholding funds from Punjab, saying the state's mining revenue could have reached Rs.20,000 crore if the Centre had extended full support.

"Had the Union government supported us, mining revenue would have touched Rs.20,000 crore as promised by Arvin...