Season of 'Gandhigiri'

Captain Amarinder Singh of the Congress in Punjab, and the state's chief minister, Parkash Singh Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal, gave their raging rivalry a break earlier this week. Singh sent Badal sweets and flowers, plucked from the garden of his estate in Patiala, through an emissary. In return, Badal greeted Singh on his appointment as chief of the Punjab unit of the Congress and presented him a bouquet of flowers, a basket of fruits and boxes of sweets. The demonstration of camaraderie came on Tuesday - the day their parties were holding two opposing rallies in Bathinda and Patiala.