4 months ago
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A governmental enactment erupted connected Monday (January 26, 2026) implicit Rahul Gandhi allegedly refusing to deterioration an Assamese Gamosa fixed to each the guests astatine a reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, with the BJP alleging that the Congress person insulted the country's northeast.
The BJP besides accused the Leader of the Opposition successful the Lok Sabha of showing disregard for Ms. Murmu by not wearing the Gamosa, portion the Congress countered by pointing retired that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had besides not worn the "patka [scarf]".
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma demanded an "unconditional apology" from Mr. Gandhi, alleging that it was profoundly insensitive and insulting to the radical of the full northeast, with the Congress person choosing not to deterioration the accepted patka, which is simply a awesome of the region's affluent taste heritage.
The improvement took spot aft a conception of the media claimed that each guests but Mr. Gandhi wore the Gamosa presented to them astatine the event.
Citing definite media reports, BJP nationalist spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said successful a station connected X, "Shameful! Rahul Gandhi has insulted the northeast and besides disrespected our precise hon'ble President."
Hitting retired astatine Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Sarma said times mightiness change, but the cognition of the "de facto supremo" of the Congress "regrettably" appeared unchanged.
"From the President and the Prime Minister to overseas dignitaries, everyone wore the Patka with respect and pride. Mr. Gandhi unsocial stood apart, reinforcing a cognition of disregard towards the northeast," the Assam Chief Minister wrote connected X.
Such a behaviour explained wherefore his enactment has "lost the spot of the portion and overmuch of the country. Yet, this repeated insensitivity continues", helium charged.
"Mr. Gandhi indispensable contented an unconditional apology to the radical of the northeast for this affront. The radical of the portion merit respect," helium added.
The Congress deed backmost astatine the BJP with the enactment media and publicity section caput Pawan Khera posting connected X a representation of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, asking the Assam Chief Minister if helium would request an apology from Mr. Singh besides for not wearing the patka.
"Hey @himantabiswa, volition you question an apology from @rajnathsingh ji too? Or your full strategy to combat anti-incumbency is to prime up specified non-issues?" Mr. Khera asked, tagging some Mr. Singh and Mr. Sarma successful his station connected the micro-blogging platform.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore besides slammed the BJP implicit the contented and asked the Assam Chief Minister wherefore Mr. Singh did not deterioration the northeast patka.
"The 2016 batch of betrayers indispensable halt this nonsense. Why is @rajnathsingh ji not wearing the North East patka then? Stop dragging the Hon'ble President @rashtrapatibhvn into your inexpensive politics," Mr. Tagore said successful a station connected X.
This comes connected a time the Congress accused the NDA Government of insulting the Leaders of Opposition successful the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, respectively, by seating them successful the 3rd enactment during the Republic Day parade lawsuit astatine Kartavya Path.
Sharing pictures of their leaders seated successful the backmost rows during the ceremony, respective Congress leaders raised questions implicit the "protocol mess-up" and propriety.
Hitting back, Mr. Poonawalla accused the Congress of putting "entitlement and ego" arsenic good arsenic "parivar and position" of the Gandhi household supra the people.
"They consciousness 'parivar tantra (family system)' is supra 'sanvidhan tantra (constitutional system)'. Seating is decided by a acceptable format — Warrant oregon Table of Precedence. One tin spot adjacent elder Cabinet Ministers astir oregon adjacent down Rahul Gandhi but nary of them made it an issue," the BJP spokesperson said successful a station connected X.
Rahul thinks helium is the proprietor of India? By the way, wherefore does helium bunk important programmes? Where was helium during the V-P Oath? CJI Oath? I-Day programme?" Mr. Poonawalla asked.
Reacting sharply, different BJP nationalist spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, accused the Congress of politicising the seating arrangements astatine the Republic Day and called Mr. Gandhi an "insincere politician".
"Shameful of the Congress to politicise adjacent seating arrangements astatine Republic Day'. Rahul Gandhi is an insincere politician, who chooses authorities implicit nationalist interest," Mr. Bhandari charged.
