India's main opposition Congress party has pushed for federal rule in the troubled state of Gujarat.

Even in the capital city Ahmedabad... there are 13,000 people in refugee camps

Congress MP Manmohan Singh

A Congress team met India's chief election commissioner to press their demand, ahead of fresh elections in the state.

And proceedings in parliament were interrupted as opposition MPs called for the dismissal of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Modi resigned on Friday to seek a fresh mandate.

But he was asked to stay on at the head of a caretaker administration.

Parliament uproar

Angry opposition MPs held up parliament on Monday as they pressed for a debate on Gujarat ahead of other legislative business.

Mr Modi has been facing severe criticism

"What Modi has done shows much more than gross misuse of power. The issue should be taken over any other business in the house," Congress MP Jaipal Reddy said in the lower house.

In a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh, Congress party officials argued that the situation in the state was still tense.

"Even in the capital city Ahmedabad according to the official figures, there are 13,000 people in refugee camps," Congress MP Manmohan Singh said.

"Thousands of people have left Gujarat and are living outside the state in fear of their lives," he added.

Religious riots

Mr Modi had come in for severe criticism for his handling of religious violence in the state earlier this year, which erupted after an attack on a train carrying Hindu activists in Godhra.

Nearly 1,000 people are estimated to have died in subsequent violence, mostly revenge attacks on Muslims by Hindus.

Some human rights groups put the toll much higher.

Sporadic incidents of violence have continued since February.

Analysts say by holding early elections the party expects to be returned on a wave of Hindu support.