New Delhi, March 18 -- Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo, HD Deve Gowda on Wednesday claimed that he was in a 'forced marriage' with the Congress but had to 'divorce' the national party because it was an "abusive relationship".

Gowda issued a statement in response to remarks earlier in the Rajya Sabha by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who bid farewell to retiring members.

Gowda, the JD(S) patriarch, addressed to his "dear and longtime friend" Kharge, over his 'light-hearted comment' in Parliament about the JD-U chief having been "marrying" Modi Sahab (BJP) despite being in "love" with the Congress all his life.

Deve Gowda said he was not in the House when Kharge spoke, as he had to leave for Bengaluru to attend...