Manish Chand/IANS
New Delhi, Jun 17: On Board Air India One, June 17 (IANS) Putting months of bitterness in the run up to elections behind, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said he and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani had apologised to each other over "hurtful" remarks.
"I was compelled to reply to what Advani said," Manmohan Singh replied when asked whether he had forgiven Advani for calling him a "weak prime minister".
"On May 16 when he (Advani) telephoned me, he told me that he was hurt by some of my statements. He said he was hurt and regretted his statements," Manmohan Singh added.
Having put the bitterness behind them, the prime minister said he looked forward to working with Advani, who is the leader of opposition.
"I apologised to him if I have hurt him. I am looking forward to a close relationship with the leader of opposition."