PM says sorry for Beni's slur on Vajpayee

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologised to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, on behalf of the government for certain "undesirable" remarks by a Congress member against former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Yesterday I was not present in the House. I have heard some undesirable remarks were made by a member of the ruling coalition which was inappropriate. On behalf of our government, I apologise to the House," Singh, who returned on Tuesday night after a three-day visit to Russia, said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and allies had yesterday created pandemonium in the House after Beni Prasad Verma (Congress) used demeaning remarks against Vajpayee forcing two adjournments. The National Democratic Alliance members were agitated when Verma used a derogatory word against the former Prime Minister during a debate on the Liberhan Commission report and demanded an apology from him.