New Delhi, Sep 18 - Notwithstanding Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's apology for his 'cattle class' travel remark, the Congress Friday said it would take 'appropriate action' against him at a suitable time and reiterated that the party condemned his comments.

'The Congress will take appropriate action at appropriate time,' party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here.

Asked about Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's demand for Tharoor's resignation, Tewari said: 'Such statements by Tharoor are bound to evoke reactions.'

Gehlot told reporters Thursday night in Jaipur that 'in my view he should tender his resignation as minister. It was unfortunate and unbecoming on his part to make such comments.'

Tewari said the Congress 'reiterates what party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said on Wednesday, condemning Tharoor's statements.'

Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan termed the phrase as 'unacceptable' and said Tharoor was perhaps not conscious of local sensitivities since he was new to Indian politics. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also slammed him for the remarks.

Tharoor has also invited criticism back home from Leader of Opposition in Kerala assembly Oommen Chandy of the Congress. He told reporters in Delhi: 'Political workers should behave like servants of the people and not their owners.'

The minister ran into trouble for a message he posted on the social networking site Twitter in which he said sarcastically in response to a query that he would travel 'cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows!'.