Cong MLA expresses regret for his comment against Bishop

Thiruvananthapuram, March 19: The Congress MLA VT Balaram, who drew flak from his party for making comments against a Catholic Bishop, today expressed regret over his remark.

"I express regret if the words used by me hurt anybody or caused mental agony," he said in a Facebook posting.

Balaram, MLA from Thrithala in Palakkad district, said he also wanted to put an end to the controversy over the remark.

In his Facebook postings yesterday, he had made critical comments against Idukki Bishop Mathew Anikkuzhikattil, who had come down heavily on a section of the Congress leadership recently.

Senior Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC President V M Sudheeran had taken exception to Balaram's remark.

The issue started when Congress candidate for Idukki Dean Kuriakose called on the Bishop yesterday seeking his blessings blessings. During the meeting, the Bishop said political leaders visit him when elections are round the corner but forget about their commitments when in power.

PTI