'Love for us, marriage with them?': Kharge's jibe at Deve Gowda sparks laughter in the Rajya Sabha; even PM Modi smiles.

During the farewell ceremony for retiring MPs in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge left everyone in splits with his witty remarks. He made such amusing observations regarding former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not contain his laughter.

What did Kharge say in the House?

Addressing the House, Kharge referred to Deve Gowda. With a touch of sarcasm, he remarked, “I have known Deve Gowda for 54 years. I worked alongside him—but I do not know what happened. He shared his affection with us, he shared his love with us, yet he ended up ‘marrying’ Mr. Modi. How this happened so quickly, I simply do not know.” At this remark by Kharge, the entire House—including PM Modi—erupted in laughter. Subsequently, he took a lighthearted dig at Ramdas Athawale as well. Laughing, Kharge noted that Athawale invariably praises PM Modi in his poems. He quipped that it seems Athawale knows no other poetry apart from verses praising Modi ji—a comment that once again sent a wave of laughter through the members.

Remarks on the Retiring Members

Amidst all this, Kharge made a profound observation. He stated that in politics or public life, individuals neither truly tire nor truly retire. The passion for serving the nation remains undiminished, transcending the holding of any specific office. Kharge emphasized that those engaged in public life remain perpetually driven by a sense of duty, regardless of whether they currently hold a parliamentary term or not.

Best Wishes to the MPs

Kharge himself is set to retire from the Rajya Sabha in June. He extended his best wishes to all the MPs retiring between April and July. He noted that the Rajya Sabha is a permanent and continuously functioning House; here, members are elected for six-year terms, and one-third of the members retire every two years. Sharing his personal experience, Kharge remarked that his time in this House had been truly enriching. He added that, even after decades of political life, he still found much to learn during his tenure here.

Expressed Joy over Sharad Pawar’s Return

Kharge expressed happiness over Sharad Pawar’s return to the House. Additionally, he lauded the contributions of Digvijaya Singh, K.T.S. Tulsi, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. He stated that these leaders have significantly enriched parliamentary discussions, and their contributions will always be remembered.