New Delhi, Dec. 10: Trinamul MP Kalyan Banerjee today expressed 'regret' in the Lok Sabha for his comments against Narendra Modi at a party rally after a threat of a censure motion from the BJP and a prod from the Speaker.

'Madam, since you are making a statement from this Chair, if I have hurt anybody's sentiments, I express my regret,' Banerjee said.

Before Speaker Sumitra Mahajan spoke, the BJP threatened a censure motion if Banerjee refused to apologise or regret his remarks.

Banerjee initially said there was nothing wrong in the comments he had made at a December 6 Trinamul programme in his constituency Serampore in Hooghly.

He said his words were just a reaction to a political attack unleashed by the BJP against chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

'I state that it was not my intention to insult the Prime Minister, nor was it my intention to disrespect our late PM Lal Bahadur Shashtriji.... My political speech was a reaction to the very recent speech made by the BJP general secretary,' Banerjee said in the House.

Banerjee was referring to Sidharthnath Singh's slogan ' Bhaag Mamata, bhaag (run Mamata, run)' at the Amit Shah rally in Calcutta on November 30. The Trinamul MP pointed out that the speech criticising Modi was made outside Parliament and so it should not be a subject of discussion in the House.

The refusal to apologise or express regret invited angry protests from the treasury benches.

BJP MP Kirit Somaiya was ready to move a privilege motion against Banerjee. Parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu came up with strong words advocating action against the Trinamul MP. 'I hoped the member would express regret and take back his remarks. But unfortunately he is raising a technical issue,' Naidu said, making it clear that the BJP was not ready to pardon the remarks.

After Banerjee expressed regret today, a section in Trinamul started asking why the same rule should not apply to MP Tapas Paul, who had embarrassed the party with his 'rape-and-shoot speech', which too was made outside the House.

Before the start of the winter session of Parliament, Paul had told this newspaper that he would tender an apology for his comments made during a street corner meeting at Nadia. But that is yet to happen.

'Tapas should also apologise as his comments have sullied the image of the party,' said a senior Trinamul leader.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Congress in the House, today tried to come to the Trinamul MP's rescue but failed miserably. Kharge argued that since the remarks made by Banerjee were outside the House, the matter should not be pressed here. He feared that it would set a precedent and all remarks made by political leaders outside the House would be raised.

Treasury bench members immediately pointed out how Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti had to express regret over her remarks made outside the House.

Kharge sought to differentiate between the two, saying Jyoti was a minister, while Kalyan was just an MP.

This too came under strong protest. 'Kalyan Banerjee is a member of this House and he, too, has taken an oath of the Constitution,' Naidu said.

After Naidu spoke, Speaker Mahajan told Banerjee: 'No one becomes small by seeking an apology.... You could have also added a few words and expressed regret.... I can't force anyone to say this and, as I said yesterday, that an apology cannot be extracted from anyone.'

Banerjee then rose from his seat and expressed regret.