Sonia does not attend R Day parade

Congress president Sonia Gandhi was conspicuous by her absence at the Republic Day parade and at the "At Home" hosted by President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.

There was no comment from either the party or her office about the reasons for her absence.

Her son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi was present at the parade and was seen clicking pictures of a floral tableau on "Save the Tigers" theme.