Rahul Gandhi visit to Amethi

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi interacting with local people during his visit to Amethi for inauguration of Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana .

Aamir Khan does a Rahul Gandhi in Madhya Pradesh

Aamir does a Rahul Gandhi in Madhya Pradesh

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan turned a Rahul Gandhi in Madhya Pradesh when he surprised a weaver by spending hours at his humble house along with Kareena Kapoor, sharing simple home-cooked meals with the family and leaving only two hours past midnight.

Aamir, 44, who has come up with a unique way to promote his forthcoming film "3 Idiots", called on the surprised weaver Hukum Koli and his wife at their brick-and-mud house in Pranpur village in Chanderi district.

That was on Monday. The actor's office said he decided to spend quality time with the family along with his co-star Kareena. Both are among the highest paid actors in Bollywood.

And Aamir and Kareena did not waste the weaver family's time.

Both of them not only wove a sari, with generous tips from the weaver and his wife Kamlesh, but also savoured a meal of pooris and 'lauki ki subzi'.

The sari made by Kareena and Aamir will go for auction through an NGO, and the money will go for the development of the village. The sari carries the names of both the stars.

"I want to create awareness among the youth to make handloom a more integral part of their wardrobe. It is like wearing Italian shoes because they are handmade. The same goes for handloom," Aamir told a team of people travelling with him.

Hukum Koli said that both the actors also bought saris for their families. And Aamir promptly gifted one to Kareena too.

Kareena told media persons that it was an NGO that had alerted Aamir about the plight of the weavers and the dying art of Chanderi sari making.

"The saris are sold for thousands in cities but the weavers get only a small fraction of that," she said.

Chanderi, a town of historical importance surrounded by hills, lakes and forests, is known for its handloom. These off white saris were traditionally made of cotton, but over the years they started using silk threads.

Aamir's sudden visit to a rural heartland triggered comparisons with Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, who earlier taken British Foreign Secretary David Miliband to a village in his Amethi constituency.

The 39-year-old politician had spent the entire night at Dalit Shiv Kumari's house, while Miliband went to Dalit woman Karma's place and slept on her cot. Both had dinner with the hosts.

Things you didn't know about Sonia Gandhi

On December 9, Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s 63rd birthday, we bring you 9 not-so-well known nuggets from her life.

1. Chef Sonia
She prepares excellent red chilly oil, a base for salad dressing. Early in her marriage, she followed many cookery books and occasionally made pasta for mother-in-law Indira Gandhi.

2. Cleanliness is Godliness
Sonia is known to be very particular about keeping her home squeaky clean. She often does the dusting of the rooms herself, especially before important meetings.

3. Indira’s cute note

A month after Sonia’s marriage, her mom was returning home to Italy. To ease the pain, mother-in-law Indira Gandhi sent a little note to her that said, “Hi Sonia, this is just to tell you that we all love you.” That won Sonia’s heart. She would always call Indira ‘Mummy’.

4. The newly married Sonia
Sonia was often spotted on Delhi roads sitting behind husband Rajiv on his Lambretta scooter in the early days of their marriage. They frequented India Gate for ice-cream.

5. Mommy in momentous times
On Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s first visit to Delhi after the formation of Bangladesh, the who’s who of the Indian establishment including President VV Giri, PM Indira Gandhi and yes — a pregnant Sonia — gathered at the airport. The next day she gave birth to daughter Priyanka.

6. Sonia’s sarees
Sonia is fond of handloom saris, particularly traditional weaves. On her wedding day she wore a pink cotton saree woven by Nehru. Years later daughter Priyanka wore that same sari for her wedding.

7. Artsy Sonia
She did an art restoration course from the National Gallery of Modern Art.

8. The bookworm
Sonia has an eclectic taste in books. An entire wall of a room where she receives visitors in her Janpath home is lined with books.

9. No junk food
Someone who does yoga daily, Sonia avoid pastas, pizzas and noodles, but has a weakness for coffee. In winters, she must have a few glasses of fresh orange juice. During her election campaigns, Sonia often chose dal and roti.

Sonia’s astro-prediction
By Advanced Numerologist, Master Lok Deepak Bakshi

As she enters her 64th year (6+4=1), Sonia should participate more in global affairs. On the personal front, she would like Rahul to settle down this year. She can still scale many new heights, only if she wants to.

News HT

I want to change the way politics works in UP Rahul Gandhi

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that he wants to change the way politics works in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to the media a day after UP's Mayawati government had not given permission for his press conference, Rahul Gandhi said that the politics in the state has stuck in the past. He said that he wanted to change this situation and make it more forward looking.

Rahul said that his goal was not 2012 UP elections but much beyond.

Rahul Gandhi also said that the youth in the state have given good response to his call to join the movement to promote democracy and improve the way politics is practiced in the country.

Rahul Gandhi refused to comment on the Liberhan panel report. However, he said that he respected veteran BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a senior politician.

Gandhi also said that he did not know whether the Liberhan Commission has done the right thing or not by naming Vajpayee in its report on the Babri demolition.

Rahul Gandhi visit at Parliament house

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi interacting with school children from Punjab during their visit at Parliament house in New Delhi.

Sonia Gandhi at the flagging off the Red Ribbon Express

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi lighting the lamp as Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad look on, at the flagging off the Red Ribbon Express in New Delhi.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and others flagging off the Red Ribbon Express in New Delhi .

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Health Minister Gulam Navi Azad visiting the Red Ribbon Express which has latter flagged of by Sonia Gandhi to mark the Internationl Aids Day in New Delhi.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Opposition leader L K Advani and CPI leader D Raja at Parliament house to pay tribute to Dr. B R Ambedkar on his 54th Mahaparinirvan Diwas at Parliament house in New Delhi.