Guwahati, Jan 27: A political controversy broke out following the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with the BJP accusing Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of showing disrespect to Assamese culture and the office of the President by declining to wear the traditional gamosa.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Gandhi refused repeated requests from President Droupadi Murmu to wear the gamosa during the reception held after the Republic Day parade. Addressing reporters, Poonawalla claimed that the refusal amounted to an insult to both the President and the constitutional office she holds, and accused the Congress leader of breaching protocol at a national event.
The Congress dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Congress MP and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi said the issue was being selectively amplified, adding that similar scrutiny was not applied to ruling party leaders. He urged political parties to rise above such controversies.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also countered the BJP’s claims, alleging that opposition leaders were being systematically targeted. He questioned why objections were not raised against senior BJP leaders who were also seen without the traditional patka at the event, and described the controversy as part of a pattern of disrespect towards opposition figures.
Earlier, BJP leaders had asserted that the gamosa or patka was worn by all attendees at the reception, including the President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and foreign dignitaries, and that Gandhi’s refusal reflected disregard for the culture and people of the North East.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly criticised Gandhi in a post on X, stating that his conduct reinforced a long-standing perception of indifference towards the region. Sarma said that while dignitaries across the spectrum wore the patka with respect, Gandhi stood apart, ignoring the cultural significance of the gesture.
The episode has added to the ongoing political sparring between the BJP and the Congress, with both sides accusing each other of politicising cultural symbols and constitutional occasions.
