A day after defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's spat with Karnataka minister Sa Ra Mahesh in Kodagu, the Defence Ministry on Saturday said that it was unfortunate the way he behaved and described some of his subsequent personal remarks against her as in bad taste.

In an official clarification, it referred to media reports that she got angry with Mahesh during the flood review meeting with the Kodagu district administrator and said Mahesh's remark lowered the dignity of the Rajya Sabha which showed utter lack of regard and knowledge about Indian polity.