New Delhi, December 4: After protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers against Congress' Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's "unparliamentary" remark against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, an apology was issued by him before the House. The Berhampore MP said he would unconditionally express regret if his words has offended Sitharaman. 'Narendra Modi, Amit Shah Are Intruders Themselves': Congress' Chowdhury Stokes Row Over NRC.

Chowdhury, while attacking the government over the state of economy on Monday, ended up referring to Nirmala Sitharaman as "Nirbala". The word roughly translates to being weak. The remark was expunged from the records by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The BJP lawmakers, earlier today, raised hue and cry in the Lower House over the remarks of Chowdhury. They demanded an unconditional apology from him or Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Update by ANI

"During discussion in the House I had addressed our Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as Nirbala. Nirmala ji is like my sister and I am like her brother. If my words have hurt her then I am sorry," Chowdhury said in the Lok Sabha.

Sitharaman, while addressing the House on Tuesday, retorted to Chowdhury's remark by saying that she is "sabla" or empowered. The Finance Minister further further went on to allege that her critics have called her the "worst FM" even before her tenure has ended.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 04, 2019 08:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).