The generals were exchanging bouquets with warmth in the handshakes and coldness in hearts as their soldiers slugged it out in the open fields of Punjab on historic day of rallies — 12/15.
In an extra ordinary display of traditional Punjabi hospitality, the newly-appointed Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday accorded a majestic welcome to his arch rival, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, by presenting him a bouquet of flowers especially plucked from his royal estate orchard along with shahi ladoos.
Badal too returned the gesture sending flowers, a fruit basket and five boxes of sweets to the Patiala Royal on his coronation which took place on Tuesday on Badals’ home ground at Bathinda.
The pleasantries were exchanged as both the leaders invaded the bastion of their rivals; while Capt Amarinder was in Bathinda, and the Badal was in Patiala. The rare display of gesture by the two leaders came as their parties attacked each other during the parallel rallies held on the same day.
The ‘sweet’ exchange began when Capt Amarinder announced that when Badal will arrive in Patiala for Sadbhawna rally, he will get an unexpected gift — shahi ladoos and specially-plucked flowers.
Capt Amarinder had even deputed his former aide MP Singh to hand over the gifts to Badal at 11 am. In fact, Capt Amarinder’s office had formally sent a missive to the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, asking him to ensure that Singh gets access to the Chief Minister to hand over the gifts.
Extending good wishes, Badal also sent a bouquet of flowers, a fruit basket and five boxes of sweets to Capt Amarinder. He also greeted Capt Amarinder’s wife and Patiala MlA Parneet Kaur and family.