BJP leader and junior Union minister Giriraj Singh on Monday came under attack from senior Grand Alliance leaders for his controversial remark on minority status for Muslims.

Giriraj had on Sunday demanded a debate to roll back minority status to Indian Muslims while reacting to a Global Research Foundation report that said India will be home to the largest Muslim population in the world by 2050. He had tweeted saying the Muslim population is so high that their status as a "minority" should be rolled back.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad said Giriraj had lost his mental balance. "He is a lunatic. Giriraj is a good for nothing and a master at creating controversy," Lalu said before leaving to catch a chartered flight to campaign in Uttar Pradesh. "He always talks nonsense and people should not take notice of his comment."

Lalu's wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi demanded Giriraj's removal from the Union cabinet. "He should be immediately sacked as minister and I also demand cancellation of his membership in Parliament."

This is not the first time Giriraj has invited controversy with his remark on Muslims. He had earlier said that if the country's population policy was not changed to enforce a two-child norm, "our daughters" would not be "safe" and might have to be kept "under the veil" like in Pakistan.

Bihar minority welfare minister Abdul Gafoor attacked Giriraj saying he had issued comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instructions. "The BJP has kept leaders like Giriraj, Sakshi Maharaj and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti to issue controversial statements against minorities. They have the Prime Minister's backing and speak only when he asks them to do so," he said.

Earlier, a sting operation had shown Giriraj wondering if the Congress party would have accepted Sonia Gandhi's leadership had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian who was not fair-skinned.

Even Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS), an NDA constituent, attacked Giriraj on the minority issue.

"The Constitution of India gives minority status to Muslims," HAMS president Jitan Ram Manjhi said.

"Being part of the government at the Centre, it does not look nice when Giriraj issues such controversial statements. I will ask him not to issue such comments that can put functioning of the government in danger."

Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president and education minister Ashok Choudhary said leaders like Giriraj and Sakshi Maharaj issue such statements during elections and return to their respective holes once elections are over. JDU MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called Giriraj a "terrorist" who is controlled by remote from New Delhi.