From correspondents in Delhi, India, 12:02 PM IST

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday apologised for Congress MP Beni Prasad Verma's derogatory remarks against former prime minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Manmohan Singh, who returned from his Russia visit Tuesday night, said Wednesday that Verma's comment 'was not appropriate'.

'I on behalf of my government apologise to the house for the comment by one of my colleagues,' he said in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP demanded an apology from the government when the house started Wednesday morning.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)