With Britain voting to exit the European Union, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup suggested a referendum in India on breaking away from its "colonial past" and quitting the Commonwealth.
Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said in a facebook post: "Quitting seems to be the fashion these days. Should India join the bandwagon?... Go for a referendum on whether India should break away from the colonial past and quit the Commonwealth?"
In a crucial referendum, Britain has voted to leave the EU in a deadly blow to the 28-nation bloc that triggered a panic reaction in financial markets globally.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. Its roots go back to the British Empire when some countries were ruled directly or indirectly by Britain.
Earlier in the day, citing the 'Brexit' referendum, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the national capital will soon have a referendum on full statehood issue.
