India, April 8 -- Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge expressed regret on Wednesday, a day after his remarks at a rally in Kerala triggered a political row, with the BJP seeking his apology. In an X post, Kharge said that his remarks were "deliberately misinterpreted", but added that he still expresses regret.

"It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect," Kharge said in the post.

His clarification on the controversy came a day after the BJP alleged that he called Gujaratis "illiterate" during a rally in Kerala, and sought the Congress MP's apology.

According to news agency PTI, at an election rally in Kerala's Idukki distric...