Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul, whose rape remarks sparked countrywide outrage, Tuesday tendered an unconditional apology to the party and the media, terming his comments a "gross error of judgment" and admitting they were "deeply insensitive".

In a letter addressed to the people with copies to the Trinamool's chairperson Mamata Banerjee, general secretary Mukul Roy, national spokesperson Derek O'Brien and the media, Pal pointed out "there was an attempt at provocation".