PM Modi recites Neeraj's poem to counter Kharge, says it was written during Congress regime

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday showered praise on Congress president and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge while also taking a dig at him in a lighter vein.

In between an all out attack on Congress, Modi said he had deep respect for Kharge for such a long and distinguished public life. “It is not an easy thing to be in public life for so long,” he said.

As Kharge tried to speak, Modi said, “Aapko aapka ghar me toh yeh baatein sun-ne nahi milengi; Main hi bata deta hoon (You wont hear this in your party, so let me say this.” The comments triggered a spell of laughter in the House.

Modi referred to Kharge’s habit of quoting poetries (shayari) in his speeches and read out a poem written by renowned Hindi poet Gopaldas Neeraj, who was also quoted by Kharge, to attack the Congress.

Congress president while participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, had quoted a poem by Neeraj.

"Jo loot le kahar hi dulhan ki palki, haalat yahi hai aajkal hindustan ki... auro ke ghar ki dhoop use kyo pasand ho, bechi ho jisne roshni apne makan ki (The palanquin bearer is plundering the palanquin of the bride, this is the situation of India today... Those who sell the light of their homes, would not like sunshine on someone else's roof)," Kharge had quoted.

Modi too quoted Neeraj. “Tamasha karnewalo ko kya khabar ... hamne kitne toofano ko par kar diya jalaya hai (those conducting a circus wont know how many storms we had crossed to light a lamp).”

The prime minister said he had deep respect for leaders like Kharge, Sharad Pawar and H D Deve Gowda who had spent long years in public life. “Its a remarkable achievement,” he said. Both Pawar and Gowda were present in the House.

Modi said Kharge knew when these poems were written, but he could not express his pain in the Congress, so he thought he should speak here.

"He (Neeraj) wrote this poem during the Congress regime," said Modi, who was greeted with loud cheers by the treasury benches.

"At a time when the Congress was in power everywhere, a collection of poems - 'Phir Deep Jalega' - was released," he said. "He had written - mere desh udas na ho, phir deep jalega, timir dhalega (my country don't be sad, lamps will be lit again, the darkness will fade).”

"Our inspiration Atal Bihari Vajpayee also said 'Suraj niklega, andhera chhatega, kamal khilega' (the sun will rise, darkness will fade, the lotus would bloom),” Modi said, bringing another round of applause in the Upper House.