Chandigarh: Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, who had landed himself in a controversy for allegedly using objectionable language against Jawaharlal Nehru, on Tuesday again apologised, saying he did not mean to be disrespectful or to hurt anyone's sentiments.
The Minister regretted the use of words, saying he was sorry if anyone's sentiments have been hurt.
The matter concerning "objectionable remarks" against the first Prime Minister was raised today in the budget session of the Haryana Assembly by senior Congress leader and former speaker of the Assembly Kuldeep Sharma.
When the House assembled for the Question Hour, Kuldeep Sharma demanded the minister to tender an apology to the country for "insulting Nehru."
He further said his party has decided to boycott the minister for his objectionable language.
"We will not allow the minister to speak in the House until he apologises to the nation for his remarks."
The minister, however, said that he had only narrated an anecdote pertaining to popular folk singer Lakshmi Chand and that he had already apologised for his remarks.
"I have high regard for Pt Nehru and I never meant to insult him. I did not mean to be disrespectful towards Nehru. I feel sorry to Kuldeep Sharma if I hurt his feeling. I also regret having used that language," he said.
The minister speaking as chief guest at a folk festival held in last month at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak had courted controversy after narrating an anecdote in which two persons during a conversation used some cuss words while talking about Nehru.
