PM hosts Iftar, Sonia star of the evening

Sonia listened as hordes of people tried to reach out to her with myriad suggestions. ‘‘Madam, you should do something about your Urdu newspaper Qaumi Awaz (sister publication of National Herald) if you want your voice to reach across to Muslims,’’ said one of the guests. This one got instantly registered with the Congress president and she sent for Congress treasurer Moti Lal Vora. As the veteran leader showed up, Sonia asked him to take note of the point and discuss the matter with her later.

Union Minister and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan volunteered to join the effort to restore the Urdu newspaper to health. However, someone gave the entire talk an unforeseen spin: ‘‘Please tell him to join hands with Lalooji (Railways Minister) in Bihar.’’ Sonia’s neutrality was immediately manifested with a grin. But, Paswan missed no time in clearing the air. ‘‘Leave this (issue of aligning with Laloo) to me,’’ he said.

But Sonia wasn’t the only one hearing out. The Prime Minister too paid attention as the father-son duo — Farooq and Omar Abdullah — chatted with him. He also posed before the cameras with the Abdullahs.

Former president R. Venkataraman and former prime minister I.K. Gujral came in too, as did CPI(M) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet, party spokesperson Sitaram Yechuri, and CPI leader D. Raja.

The most notable absentee allies were Agriculture Minister and NCP leader Sharad Pawar and RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav. The NCP was represented by general secretary Tariq Anwar and RJD by Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.

There was no trace of SP leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, but SP Rajya Sabha member Shahid Siddiqui, who was present, walked up to Sonia to greet her.

Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan was also present for the iftar.