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Miliband spends night in village Miliband spends night in village
(about 10 hours later)
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has spent a night in a house belonging to an "untouchable" in an Indian village.UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has spent a night in a house belonging to an "untouchable" in an Indian village.
He also met Rahul Gandhi, son of the ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi, in what was labelled as a get-together of two leaders in waiting. He also met Rahul Gandhi, son of the ex-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in what was labelled as a get-together of two leaders in waiting.
Mr Gandhi is widely tipped one day to lead the Congress party, while Mr Miliband has faced constant speculation over his leadership ambitions.Mr Gandhi is widely tipped one day to lead the Congress party, while Mr Miliband has faced constant speculation over his leadership ambitions.
The two men arrived in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.The two men arrived in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
Traditional mealTraditional meal
They stayed in a village in the constituency of Amethi, which has long been associated with the Gandhi family.They stayed in a village in the constituency of Amethi, which has long been associated with the Gandhi family.
Mr Miliband was invited by Rahul Gandhi to stay in the village.Mr Miliband was invited by Rahul Gandhi to stay in the village.
Amethi was the seat of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his grandson Rajiv Gandhi, who like him served as prime minister.
Many Indian villagers rely on subsistence labourMany Indian villagers rely on subsistence labour
Reports say that Mr Miliband stayed the night in a thatched house belonging to an "untouchable" and slept on a "charpoy" - a string bed built on a wooden frame.Reports say that Mr Miliband stayed the night in a thatched house belonging to an "untouchable" and slept on a "charpoy" - a string bed built on a wooden frame.
He was also offered a traditional village meal.He was also offered a traditional village meal.
The house was described by the Press Trust of India news agency as a "typical village household complete with cows and buffaloes".The house was described by the Press Trust of India news agency as a "typical village household complete with cows and buffaloes".
Mr Miliband and Mr Gandhi also met local self-help groups run by women and attended a literacy programme and dairy development activities.Mr Miliband and Mr Gandhi also met local self-help groups run by women and attended a literacy programme and dairy development activities.
A British foreign office spokesman had said ahead of Mr Miliband's visit to the village that it would be a chance for the foreign secretary to "see what life is like outside the cities".A British foreign office spokesman had said ahead of Mr Miliband's visit to the village that it would be a chance for the foreign secretary to "see what life is like outside the cities".
The Indian press had a more colourful take on proceedings.The Indian press had a more colourful take on proceedings.
One commentator described it as "a coming together of two dynamic, forward-thinking and charismatic politicians who look set to play key leadership roles in their countries later in the 21st century".One commentator described it as "a coming together of two dynamic, forward-thinking and charismatic politicians who look set to play key leadership roles in their countries later in the 21st century".