New Delhi, July 28 - A day-long debate in the Lok Sabha Tuesday on the drought conditions in several parts of the country had several 'Kisan ke bete (Sons of farmers)' missing while they otherwise wax eloquent on issues concerning agriculture.

Most of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members were missing. So were the champions of the cause of the Hindi heartland like Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Yadav, who variously describe themselves as 'Kisan ke bete' -- all could not be seen for the most part of the debate.

However, BJP leader L.K. Advani was there in the evening -- at a time most senior members are generally not present -- about half-an-hour before Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was to reply to the debate.

Pawar did not move an inch from his seat all through and listened with rapt attention as the MPs - not that there were many - spoke.