Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar expressed regret over his comments against the opposition leader Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha, which caused disturbances in the house for the last two days.

After the house restarted its meeting in the post-lunch session, Mani Shankar said he regretted to have inadvertently and without malicious intent used the words that were subsequently expunged by the chair.

Aiyar said, "The chair has expunged a few words and expressions I used at the start of my maiden speech on the evening of May 3, 2010. As one who has been selected for the outstanding Parliament Award, 2006, I regret I have inadvertently and without malicious intent used the expunged words/expressions. I bow to the direction of the chair and seek chairman's permission to resume my speech."

Deputy Chairman K. Rahman stated that Aiyar can recommence his speech when the house resumes conversation on the functioning of the home ministry.

The BJP affiliates had been insisting on regret from Aiyar after his "fascistic" statement against Jaitley that was seen to be a personal attack.

Sources said that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had also suggested Aiyar, who was appointed to the upper house in March 2010, to express regret over his comments and let the talk on the working of the home ministry be finished. (With Inputs from Agencies)