Sonia Gandhi (right) and Ruby Noor (centre) place flowers on Ghani Khan’s grave. (Amit Datta)

Malda, April 28: Sonia Gandhi was astounded by the luncheon spread before her when she arrived at the Kotwali residence of the late A.B.A. Ghani Khan Chowdhury after addressing a rally at Sujapur, 25km away.

“I eat very little. You need not have made such a lavish arrangement,” the Congress president told her hosts, Malda MP Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury and Sujapur MLA Ruby Noor.

Abu Naser Khan Chowdhury, Ghani Khan’s other brother who lives in Switzerland, was also there.

Stuck on the dining table was a printed menu, listing everything from fresh coconut water to desserts along with a selection of sandwiches and salads and the main course of fish and meat preparations.

“Madam, it is a tradition in India to treat distinguished guests with special fares and we are proud to have such a visitor as you today,” said Abu Naser.

Sonia was at Kotwali for less than 20 minutes. According to Union minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, who was present at the luncheon, Sonia told the Khan Chowdhurys that she had urgent work in New Delhi and could not stay longer.

“She had tuna and cheese sandwiches, rice salad (embellished with capsicum, cashew, raisins, pineapple and apple), fruit juice and fresh coconut water,” Ruby Noor said afterwards.

Ruby Noor had earlier hurried back to Kotwali from Sujapur in a car to make arrangements for the luncheon. Abu Hasem flew with Sonia on the helicopter.

The Chowdhurys told Sonia about the need for a technical university in Malda and reopening the airport. “She said we should pursue the demands,” Ruby Noor said.

Sonia looked at photographs on the walls that featured Ghani Khan with the Gandhis and Jawaharlal Nehru. “She wanted to know when and where the photographs had been taken,” Ruby Noor said.

While Sonia was lunching with the Khan Chowdhurys and their immediate family members in the dining room, district Congress leaders were waiting outside.

Earlier, the chopper carrying Sonia landed on the temporary helipad near Kotwali at 12.40pm. She then walked to the mausoleum of Ghani Khan and placed flowers on the grave.