Under flak for his comments on slain National Security Guard commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan's family, Kerala [Images] Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on Wednesday  reversed his stand and expressed "deep sorrow and regret" over the pain
caused to the officer's kins.
    
"I express deep sorrow and regret over the pain caused to Sandeep Unnikrishnan's family by certain remarks of me," the 85-year-old Marxist veteran told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram after the Congress-led United Democratic Front stalled the assembly proceedings, demanding an apology from him over his remarks.
    
Achuthanandan's remarks that "even a dog would not have glanced at that house had it not been Sandeep's residence," had caused uproar across the nation.
    
His clarification today came shortly after he declined to tender an apology in the assembly, stating that his remarks
were distorted by the media and exploited by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party for political gains.
    
At the press meet, Achuthanandan claimed that he expressed regret on his remarks in the assembly itself but
opposition sought to distort the issue by stalling the proceedings for political gains.    

Achuthanandnan said he chose to convene the press meet to "clarify" his position. However, he declined to entertain questions from the mediapersons.