BJP-Cong train guns over Rahul not wearing ‘gamosa’

The Assamese ‘gamosa’, a stole like traditionally woven cloth worn around the shoulders, has become the latest bone of contention between the Congress and the BJP, as the face-off intensifies in the run-up to assembly elections in the state.

It all began at the ceremonial “At Home” reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the evening of Republic Day. This time, the theme of the event being northeast, all the guests were gifted a gamosa, which most of the guests, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and foreign dignitaries, wore.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, however, was seen walking holding the gamosa, flanked by his party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who had worn his on the shoulder. The BJP did not let the opportunity slip to take on Gandhi. Its leaders accused him of insulting the northeast and showing disregard to the President.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to X to demand an unconditional apology from Gandhi for what he described as an affront to the people of northeast.

Describing Gandhi as the de facto supremo of the Congress party, Sarma wrote “In an act that was deeply insensitive and insulting to the people of the entire North East, Mr. Gandhi chose not to wear the traditional Patka, a symbol of the region’s rich cultural heritage, at the reception hosted by the Hon’ble President of India this evening.”

He said from the President and the Prime Minister to foreign dignitaries, everyone wore the ‘Patka’ with respect and pride, while Gandhi alone stood apart, reinforcing a perception of disregard towards the North East. “Such conduct explains why his party has lost the trust of the region and much of the country. Yet, this repeated insensitivity continues,” said the chief minister.

Congress’ Pawan Khera retaliated with a post on X, with a picture of defence minister Rajnath Singh, asking the Assam chief minister if he will demand an apology from Singh also for not wearing the patka. "Hey @himantabiswa, will you seek an apology from @rajnathsingh ji too? Or your entire strategy to fight anti incumbency is to pick up such non issues?" Khera asked, tagging both Singh and Biswa in his post on the micro-blogging platform.

The sparring between the two parties is getting fiercer as elections near. The BJP, which has been in power for the past decade in Assam, is hoping to win a third consecutive term in the assembly elections in March-April, while the Congress is trying to cash in on “anti-incumbency”.

Ahead of the ‘gamosa’ row, the Congress had accused the Modi government of insulting Opposition leaders— Gandhi and charge- by providing seats in the third row during the Republic Day parade, raising questions over protocol and propriety. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, however, dubbed it putting “entitlement and ego” above people.