New Delhi, June 26 -- Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has demanded an apology from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for referring to Bihar as a "small" state, calling the remark "extremely unfortunate" and "insulting."

"The Congress President should immediately apologize to the 13 crore people of Bihar," Rai said in a statement.

Rai termed Kharge's remarks as "extremely unfortunate" and "insulting", saying, "It is extremely unfortunate and insulting that Congress National President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge referred to Bihar as a 'small' state. This is a highly objectionable remark made by him for people of Bihar."

MoS Rai further said that the 13 crore people of Bihar cannot...