"I was shocked and worried when party president (Stalin) brought to my notice that I had used an archaic term to refer to differently-abled people in the course of my speech at a public meeting. That I, who was raised by Kalaignar, had committed such a mistake is a great blunder. It would have hurt differently-abled people. I express my unconditional regret for the same. I know to what extent our party president would have been hurt. I express my regrets to him as well," said Duraimurugan in a statement circulated by the high command.