Rahul Gandhi, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to share table at PM's lunch

Times of India

A highlight of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's luncheon meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday will be the interaction between Rahul Gandhi and Zardari's 24-year-old son Bilawal, both heirs apparent in their respective parties. While no separate meeting is scheduled, the two young leaders are expected to have a discussion over lunch that will also be attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior Cabinet ministers.

Even though the interaction will be on the sidelines of what is being touted as an informal meeting between Singh and Zardari with no structured agenda, it is drawing parallels with the 1988 SAARC summit meeting between Bilawal's mother Benazir Bhutto and Rahul's father Rajiv Gandhi - the two assassinated leaders, who were then seen as having the potential to break fresh ground. Despite an age gap between them, it is expected that Rahul and Bilawal will hit it off due to similar past experiences.

"This will be their first meeting and they will have enough time over lunch to talk and get to know each other better," said a government official, adding that Rahul is expected to be seated opposite Bilawal, who became the chairman of PPP at the age of 19, during lunch.

Sources said that apart from Bilawal, Zardari will also be accompanied by interior minister Rehman Malik, and a few other "male relatives". Other Indian ministers who will be present at the lunch are finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union home minister P Chidambaram and defence minister A K Antony. NSA Shivshankar Menon will also be present. Other guests include Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and senior BJP leader L K Advani. Minister for parliamentary affairs and water resources Pawan Kumar Bansal will be the minister-in-waiting for Zardari, and will receive him at the airport.

The lunch is also expected to be a fine culinary experience for leaders from both the countries with dishes from across the border also on the menu. The spread includes jaitooni murg seekh, kareli dal gosht, tori bhujia, sarson ke phool, makai palak, paneer jalfrezi, avail, vegetarian shami, murg kofta makhni and sikandari khusk raan. Desserts will comprise gur ka sandesh, phirni and blueberry mousse.