Thursday, June 2 2005 12:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kyiv: The young Congress Parliamentarian, Milind Deora, who is part of the delegation led by President A P J Abdul Kalam, stole the show at the reception hosted by Indian Ambassador in Kyiv in honour of the visiting dignitary.

Soon after the formal speech by the President and the routine question-answer session with Indians based in Ukraine last night (Jun 1, 2005), Kalam left for the State guesthouse leaving the reception on the shoulders of Union Minister Jagdish Tytler and MPs Deora and N P Durga.

The guests started queuing up to shake hands with the delegation members and also recalled their old acquaintances.

However, 28-year-old Deora was the favourite of youngsters who were asking him questions ranging from politics of the country to economics.

Many young Indians, who are either working for some multinationals or have set up a small businesses in Kyiv, gathered around the Congress MP from South Mumbai.

The majority of Indians here were students who had come for studies in the erstwhile USSR and had decided to stay back after the break-up.

Deora, during the two-hour reception, was seen answering questions about how to project India as a destination for investment and the dream of the President of a "new" India. An Indian youth settled in Kyiv sought minute details about the linking of rivers.

At the end of the dinner, the young Deora was seen with his plate in one hand and visiting cards in the other.

"It is really impressive. Indians are doing well," remarked Deora and said, "It was nice talking to such a gathering."

Asked whether he would miss not being in his constituency when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits it on June 4, Deora said, "I will miss it but definitely this is a great opportunity and privilege for me also to be part of such a high-level delegation led none other than by the President himself."

The Prime Minister will be inaugurating a hospital in his constituency on Saturday (Jun 4, 2005).

Traditional Indian food was served during the evening as renowned opera musician German Makarenko enthralled the guests with his rendition of A R Rehman's number 'Dil yeh Chota sa, Choti si Aasha' from the famous Mani Ratnam film 'Roja.'