It is common for political bigwigs to host “Holi Milan” (get together to celebrate the festival of colours) in the capital. Television news channels are replete with the celebrations at the residences of top political leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and L K Advani.
This year’s Holi Milan has been little different for the two leaders though. For, in an unprecedented move, the Lok Sabha Opposition Leader decided to call on the Congress president to greet her personally on Holi.
Advani, who had, on a couple of occasions stressed that the BJP and Congress were not political enemies but rivals who had difference of opinions, decided on the move mainly to present a copy of his autobiography My Country, My Life.
Advani had recently said that he spoke on the same lines to Congress apparent heir Rahul Gandhi when both met at the VIP lounge at the Delhi airport. In perhaps his first visit to 10, Janpath, the challenger to the prime ministerial crown was accompanied by his wife Kamala.
The former deputy prime minister also called on prime minister Manmohan Singh later.
The book, in which he records his version of the political developments in post-Independence India, was released by the former President, A P J Abdul Kalam.
Speaking of Holi Milan, it was a get together that was not to be for former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and the journalists whom he had invited for a supposed dash of colours on March 19.
Most journalists who got the invite were surprised over the host in question as Gowda was never known to throw a lunch for the predominantly north Indian festival.
However, for those who were looking forward to it came the news that the programme was cancelled as the JD (S) strongman was asked by his son H D Revanna to rush to Holenarasipur, the Gowda family stronghold. It was for the inauguration of a temple for which the family had donated money. With elections in view, Gowda did not want to miss the function. There were, however, quite a few invitees who turned up at the Gowda residence as they were not informed of that the ‘Milan’ had been called off.
