‘Mohabbat Humare Saath, Shaadi Modi Sahab Ke Saath’: Kharge’s Farewell Jibe At Deve Gowda Gets The Whole House Laughing
Mallikarjun Kharge has a way with words. And on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha, he used them to send a pointed message wrapped in enough humor that even the target’s current political ally couldn’t keep a straight face.
The Congress president was delivering a farewell speech for 37 retiring members, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Ramdas Athawale, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tiruchi Siva, Amarendra Dhari Singh, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Most of the speech was warm. The part about Deve Gowda was not entirely that.
Kharge spoke of knowing the JD(S) veteran for over 54 years, of working alongside him through much of that time. Then came the turn. “I don’t know what happened later,” he said, before delivering the line that brought the house down: “Wo mohabbat humare saath kiye, shaadi Modi sahab ke saath” he loved us but married Modi. PM Modi, sitting right there, laughed. So did everyone else.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Former Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha MP, HD Deve Gowda, Congress National President and LoP, Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge says, "…I know Deve Gowda ji for more than 54 years and I worked with him a lot. Later, I don't know what happened…' Wo mohabbat… pic.twitter.com/FTyNLCQIzB
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2026
It was a clean jab at Deve Gowda’s decision to align JD(S) with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, and Kharge landed it without raising his voice once. He ended his remarks on a more straightforward note: “Those in politics, public life, neither get tired nor retire for the passion to serve the country.”
Modi had also spoken earlier, telling the outgoing members that politics has no full stops. “Discussions take place on various issues in the House, and every member plays a unique role in them,” he said. “In moments like these, a common sense of respect is generated, rising above party lines. Your experience and contribution will always be remembered.”
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He also told newly elected MPs to watch and learn from the veterans specifically naming HD Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sharad Pawar as lawmakers who have spent more than half their lives doing this work. The man who had just roasted one of them was presumably listening.
[Inputs With Agencies ]