New Delhi, Mar 13 (NDTV): Bihar politician Sharad Yadav's comments in Parliament on skin colour and "dark-skinned" south Indian women during a debate have caused outrage.

Yadav, a parliamentarian of Bihar's ruling Janata Dal United, was speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday on the government's bill for insurance reforms when he inexplicably launched into a rant on what he called the Indian obsession with fair skin.

He described the proposal to raise foreign investment from 26 to 49 per cent as a symptom of this obsession. "Here people are awed by fair skin. Matrimonial ads also ask for fair skinned brides," he said.

To make matters worse, he launched into an odd non sequitur. "In the entire country there are more saanvle (dark skinned) men. The women of south are beautiful, their bodies...their skin ...We don't see it here. They know dance," said the 67-year-old, who was named outstanding Parliamentarian of 2012.

Yadav also referred to filmmaker Leslee Udwin, whose documentary on the December 16 gang-rape has sparked a huge debate. "She must have got permissions easily because she is white," he commented.

Some MPs tried to interrupt Yadav and steer him back to the debate but he was unstoppable, saying his views must be taken in good humour. Trinamool member Derek O'Brien was seen waving his hands to silence him.

When DMK MP Kanimozhi objected, Yadav said every discussion in Parliament need not be "serious".

Yadav's comments have been sharply criticized on social media as sexist.

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said Yadav should apologise.

"It's shocking and highly objectionable. These remarks should be expunged and not allowed," said senior CPM leader Brinda Karat.

Yadav had in the past controversially used the term "parkati auratein (short-haired women)" to argue against the Women's Quota Bill.

"The topic was the insurance bill. I don't know why he had to make comments on women's bodies. It shows the chauvinistic attitude of such MPs," said Left member P Rajeev.

"It can't be condoned. We must be sensitive in this temple of democracy," said BJD member Jay Panda.