Relaxed Sonia savours dosa; Renuka plays host

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) For a few odd journalists unwinding themselves in the Central Hall of Parliament, it was a pleasant surprise when they spotted UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her MP-son Rahul sitting together in a relaxed frame of mind.

It soon transpired that they had been invited there by Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chaudhary, who was playing host to them.

Incidentally, it was Mrs Chaudhary's birthday today.

Barely minutes earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made his speech in the Lok Sabha on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal amid a raucous din created by the entire opposition as well as the Left members, who subsequently staged a walk-out.

With the Prime Minister's statement on the nuclear deal -- the most important business on the day's agenda -- over, Mrs Gandhi and her son preferred to accept the hospitality of Ms Chaudhary, who was in a jovial mood on the occasion of her birthday.

''Madam, will you have some dosa and coffee?'' asked the host.

''Dosa, yes. Please order it,'' said Mrs Gandhi.

The relaxed and informal atmosphere in the Central Hall emboldened journalists there to shoot some questions to the UPA Chairperson.

''When is the party revamp and cabinet expansion expected?'' asked a journalist.

''Both are overdue,'' pat came the reply.

Another question was put to Mr Rahul Gandhi, the MP from Amethi.

''Will you be joining the cabinet?'' ''Ask the boss'', a smiling Rahul said, pointing towards his mother.

Just before entering the Central Hall, Mrs Gandhi accosted BJP leader L K Advani. ''Your throat appears to be bad,'' she told him.

Perhaps she was making a gentle jibe at him. The BJP members in the Lok Sabha had cried themselves hoarse as the Prime Minister made his statement on the nuclear deal amid slogan-shouting.

UNI