NEW DELHI:

leader

on Friday apologised for his

over the

even as Prime Minister

slammed the comment and said it showed the "character and arrogance" of the party.

Pitroda's apology came as the Congress distanced itself from his controversial comments. The Congress issued a statement saying that Pitroda's remark is not the opinion of the party and advised all its leaders to be careful and sensitive.

Pitroda, who is the Overseas Congres chief, on Thursday said, 'hua to hua' (So what, it happened) about the anti-Sikh riots. He made this remark in response to a question on the riots by a newsman in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

Under fire from all quarters, Pitroda first tried to clarify his remarks and later apologised for it.

"The statement I made was completely twisted, taken out of context because my Hindi isn't good, what I meant was 'jo hua vo bura hua,' I couldn't translate 'bura' in my mind," Pitroda said after the Congress statement.

"What I meant was move on. We have other issues to discuss as to what BJP govt did and what it delivered. I feel sorry that my remark was misrepresented, I apologise. This has been blown out of proportion," he added.

Meanwhile, addressing a poll rally on the last day of campaigning for the sixth phase, Modi cautioned people to beware of the Congress and its allies.

“How Congress ran this country for 70 years, how their mind works, how they are filled with arrogance, they themselves yesterday summed this up in three words …

“Congress, which ruled for maximum period, has been so insensitive and that is reflected by the three words spoken yesterday. These words have not been spoken just like that, these words are character and mentality and intentions of the Congress”.

“And which were these words, these were 'hua to hua',” said Modi referring to Pitroda's remarks.

'Hua to hua,' Modi repeated a number of times during the course of his speech.

“We can very well understand arrogance of Congress and those who run it in these three words--hua to hua,” said Modi.

“Yesterday, one of the tallest leaders of the Congress speaking in a loud voice on 1984 said '84 ka danga hua to hua'. Do you know who this leader is, he is very close to the Gandhi family, he keeps meeting them on daily basis and is their biggest confidant. This leader was very good friend of (late)

and he is Guru of Congress 'naamdar' (dynast) president,” he said.

“For them, they have no value for life, for them a human being is not a human being,” said Modi.

The Congress, meanwhile, issued a statement saying "Any opinion or remark made by any individual to the contrary including Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of the Congress party."

Stating that the party and its leadership have strived to ensure justice for the 1984 riot victims, the Congress said, "We continue to support the quest for justice and stern punishment for those found guilty in 1984 riots as also the subsequent acts of violence including the 2002 Gujarat riots."

"Congress party believes that justice should be done to 1984 riots victims as also to 2002 Gujarat riots victims. We abhor violence of any kind, against any person or a group of people based on their caste, colour, region or religion. This is the essence of India," the party said.

The BJP, meanwhile, demanded that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi apologise to the Sikh community "with folded hands" for 1984 riots, immediately sack Sam Pitroda and accept that the Congress "got people massacred for selfish reasons".

Addressing a press conference where Nirpreet Kaur, a witness to the attacks, was present, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the language used by Pitroda is comparable only to the "insensitive, inhuman" remark made by Rajiv Gandhi who in the aftermath of the "genocide" said that "when a big tree falls, the earth shakes."

(With inputs from agencies)