India, Oct. 15 -- A Congress MLA in Karnataka has sparked a major controversy after making sexist remarks about a woman forest officer during an official meeting.

A video of the comments by Shivaganga Basavaraj, the MLA from Channagiri, has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism from women's rights groups and opposition leaders.

On learning that the officer was pregnant, the MLA launched into an unsolicited "lecture" on maternity leave, saying,

"If she is pregnant, she should take leave. Why does she need to work? She wants to make money, but when called for meetings, she takes leave. Is there no shame?"

Basavaraj also demanded "immediate action" against the officer, remarks that were met with visible discomfort among other official...