Kerala Congress (B) chief R Balakrishna Pillai has apologised for his alleged hate speech at a function conducted by Nair Service Society (NSS) in Pathanapuram.

He told media that his speech was intentionally edited and propagated to tarnish his image. An audio of his speech was played by different media, in which he had compared the five times namaz call of mosques to barking of street dogs.

However, he clarified that he respects Muslim and Christian religions and that he goes on pilgrimage to mosques and churches every year.

“I was never a person against minorities. I was one who supported them a lot. Every year I visit almost five mosques and churches. It was a one hour 20-minute speech, the audio played by media was edited taking my words from here and there,” he clarified.

Meanwhile Pillai’s son, former minister and Kerala Congress (B) MLA KB Ganesh Kumar has also apologised for his father’s alleged mistake.

Ganesh Kumar said that his father taught him to be secular, and he doesn’t know whether Pillai had said those words.

“Being son, if his words have hurt someone, I apologise from the bottom my heart,” Ganesh said at a public function.