Panaji, Oct 1 (IANS): A personal remark by a young IPS officer on legalising prostitution has stirred a controversy within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here.

Superintendent of Police (North district) Priyanka Kashyap and her husband Kartik, who is posted as SP in-charge of the anti-narcotics cell, while speaking at a public function here last week, called for legalising prostitution.

"I am in favour of legalisation of prostitution. It's a purely personal opinion," Kashyap had said.

BJP legislator Vishu Wagh Tuesday called for admonishing Kashyap, and in a letter to the Deputy Inspector General O.P. Mishra said the "social menace should be cracked down on, hard".

"It is shocking to see one of your officers openly propounding the case of legalising a social menace like prostitution," Wagh said in his letter, which was also circulated to the media.

Wagh insisted that Goa had already earned a bad name because of the casinos and activities related to casinos and that legalising prostitution would "end up making Goa a haven for sex craving maniacs".

"A number of prostitution rackets have been busted in the past few months lowering Goa's image in the eyes of the public. The need of the hour is to crush the menace of prostitution, leave alone legalising it," Wagh said.

The Congress also condemned the police officer's view.

"It is in bad taste. The Congress party will never support or allow such a thing to happen. How can you even think of legalising prostitution in India," state Congress Subhash Shirdokar asked.