Madam @nsitharaman, our ministers have stayed back in Kodagu for weeks to oversee relief operations along with dist… https://t.co/QQixXjxvlx — Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) 1535167529000

With the conduct of @BJP4India during these difficult times, PM @narendramodi 's actual formula of 4P to pick new m… https://t.co/YtEQnAqmFI — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) 1535180186000

NEW DELHI: A day after Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman 's spat with Karnataka minister SR Mahesh in Kodagu, the defence ministry on Saturday said that it was unfortunate the way he behaved and described some of his subsequent personal remarks against her in "bad taste".Sitharaman, who was in Karnataka on Friday to take stock of the situation in Kodagu, was seen snapping at state minister SR Mahesh during a joint press conference.Read the full MoD statementIn a statement issued today, the government clarified the sequence of events that led up the incident.The ministry said the programme for the flood affected areas was finalised by the district administration in consultation with the public representatives. It was approved and circulated to all concerned two days before her arrival. Subsequently, on the request of the district administrator, an interaction with ex-Army veterans was added to the schedule.The statement said on completion of the field visit as per the programme, she was interacting with the ex-servicemen who were affected by the floods when Mahesh objected and insisted that the meeting of the officials must be conducted first.It clarified that welfare of the ex-servicemen was an essential part of the defence ministry and the same was scheduled in the programme. "However, the district administration insisted that she immediately stop the interaction and proceed to the meeting with the officials," it said."While it was extremely unfortunate, in order to avoid the situation from deteriorating, the defence minister immediately halted the meeting and proceeded to the venue of the meeting with the officials. The venue was already set up for the press conference and hurriedly the officials were summoned to sit among the mediapersons for the review. It was unprecedented to hold a meeting with the officials, with all mediapersons present," the clarification said.It said she then heard the grievances of the waiting ex-servicemen. Inspite of the district administration finalising the programme and the defence minister following the same in its entirety, it was unfortunate that the minister behaved the way he did.The MoD statement also slammed Ramesh who had said that Sitharaman, being a Rajya Sabha member from the state, is not fully equipped to look after the pain of the people."She would have known the pain had she contested election by standing with the electorate, going to every house, meeting voters and asked their problems. She has been elected to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka," he told a TV channel.Criticizing Ramesh for showing "utter lack of regard and knowledge" about the Indian polity, the MoD said that the minister has lowered the dignity of Parliament.Earlier today, several Karnataka ministers had lashed out at Sitharaman for admonishing Ramesh and expressed disappointment over the incident.Deputy chief minister and Congress leader G Parameshwara sought to remind Sitharaman that the state government derives power from the Constitution and not the Centre."It was disappointing to see you lash out at my colleague," he wrote in a tweet.Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah , without naming the defence minister, too attacked the ruling party."With the conduct of BJP during these difficult times, PM Narendra Modi 's actual formula of 4P to pick new ministers is being clearer," Siddaramaiah tweeted.