India, Aug. 24 -- Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Hooda on Sunday regretted his remarks describing the death of 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar as an "irreparable loss"-comments that triggered a major political row with party leaders from both Punjab and Haryana castigating him.

"My intention or objective was never to hurt anyone's heart. The Sikh community is a proud community of our country, and I am proud of such a community, whose sacrifices can never be forgotten," Hooda said in a press statement issued from Chandigarh, adding that the word "role model" was never part of his statement.

Sajjan Kumar, 80, a three-time former MP, died at Safdarjung Hospital on August 20. He was serving two life terms for his role in the ri...