India, March 19 -- Former Prime Minister and JD(S) 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".

He was reacting to a statement made by the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, while bidding farewell to retiring members.

Kharge, who is also AICC President, recalled his association with Deve Gowda, who he said served as the Prime Minister and held several important positions.

"I have known Devegowda for a long time - 54 years - and have worked with him. But I do not know what happened. He fell in love with us, but married Modi sahab (Prime Minister Narendra Modi)," Kharge said in...