A political controversy erupted on Monday after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly not wearing an Assamese gamosa at the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, prompting a sharp rebuttal from the Congress.
Sarma accused Gandhi of showing insensitivity towards Assam’s culture, saying the gamosa is a symbol of respect and honour in the state and the wider Northeast. The Chief Minister’s remarks were echoed by several BJP leaders, who alleged that the Congress leader’s action reflected disregard for regional traditions.
Responding to the criticism, the Congress dismissed the charge as politically motivated and accused the BJP of selectively targeting Rahul Gandhi. Congress leader Pawan Khera cited Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, sharing photographs from the same event in which Singh was also seen without the gamosa. “Will the Chief Minister demand an apology from Rajnath Singh as well?” Khera asked in a post on social media.
The Congress maintained that the controversy was being deliberately stirred to divert attention from pressing issues in Assam. Party leaders said cultural symbols should not be weaponised for political point-scoring, especially during a constitutional event like the Republic Day reception.
Another Congress leader, Manickam Tagore, criticised the BJP for dragging the President’s official function into partisan debate and questioned why similar objections were not raised against other leaders present at the event.
The BJP, however, stood by its criticism, reiterating that the gamosa holds deep emotional and cultural significance for the people of Assam and that public leaders should be mindful of such sensitivities.
The row adds to the ongoing political sparring between the BJP and the Congress, particularly in the run-up to key political battles in Assam, with cultural symbolism once again emerging as a flashpoint in the larger political discourse.
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