New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sharp yet poetic swipe at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, countering the latter’s frequent poetic attacks on the BJP with verses of his own.
During the motion of thanks to the President’s Address, PM Modi responded to Kharge’s recitation of couplets by citing legendary poet Gopaldas Saxena Neeraj, turning the session into an intense yet light-hearted war of words through poetry.
PM Modi’s Poetic Counter to Kharge
“When Kharge ji was reciting couplets, you (Rajya Sabha chair) rightly asked him about their time period. But he knew. Kharge ji recites beautiful verses, and I respect that. I, too, have one for him,” PM Modi quipped before citing a verse:
“Tamasha karne walo ko kya khabar,
Humne kitne toofano ko paar kar diya jalaya hai.”
The Prime Minister went on to laud Kharge for his long public service, calling it an “extraordinary achievement.” However, in a friendly dig, he added, “Aapko apke ghar mein to ye baatein sunne ko nahi milengi, main hi bata deta hoon” (You won’t get to hear this at home, so I thought I’d tell you).
Highlighting “Darkness” Under Congress Rule
PM Modi then reiterated Neeraj’s poetry, originally written during Congress rule, to draw a contrast between past governance and the BJP’s leadership:
“Hai bahut andhiyaara, ab suraj nikalna chahiye,
Jis tarah se bhi ho, ye mausam badalna chahiye.”
He also cited former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, quoting:
“Suraj niklega, andhera chhatega, kamal khilega,”
A clear reference to the BJP’s lotus symbol, hinting at the party’s rise as a beacon of change.
Congress’ Past Actions Under Fire
Taking a serious turn, PM Modi slammed Congress over the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, saying:
“The nation has witnessed the period of Emergency, when the spirit of the Constitution was crushed—just for the sake of power. The country knows this.”
Further criticizing the Congress’ suppression of free speech, Modi cited the imprisonment of:
- Poet Majrooh Sultanpuri, who was jailed for reciting poetry during a workers’ strike in Mumbai under Jawaharlal Nehru’s rule.
- Veteran actor Balraj Sahni, arrested for participating in a protest demonstration.
- Music composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar (brother of Lata Mangeshkar), who was banned for life from Akashvani (All India Radio) after composing a poem on Veer Savarkar.
Political Fireworks Continue
With elections on the horizon, the Rajya Sabha debate turned into a verbal duel, where poetry, history, and political jabs took center stage. As the BJP and Congress continue their sparring, all eyes are now on how Kharge and the opposition will respond to PM Modi’s poetic punches.