An opposition lawmaker in the southern Indian state of Karnataka has apologised for joking about rape.

“There is a saying that when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it,” Congress leader KR Ramesh Kumar said in reply to speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri’s remark on chaos in the state assembly.

Mr Kageri and some other lawmakers laughed in response.

But Mr Kumar had to apologise after the statement drew outrage.

On Friday, he said in the assembly that he was apologising “with an open heart” to anyone who was hurt by the remark.

“I had no intention of insulting women, or lowering the prestige of the assembly or joking about it. I had no ulterior motive,” Mr Kumar said.

His controversial remark on Thursday was made after Mr Kageri expressed his helplessness at not being able to control lawmakers.

“A woman who faces sexual assault suffers trauma all her life. It is wrong to use this as an analogy for something else,” said Congress lawmaker Roopakala M.

On Friday, Mr Kageri turned down requests by women lawmakers to speak on the issue, saying that Mr Kumar had apologised.