What started as a fleeting moment at the President’s Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception has now turned into a full-blown political confrontation.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the culture of the North-East by not wearing the traditional gamosa, also known as the Patka, at the reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
According to BJP leaders, the Patka was worn by all those present at the event, including the President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and foreign dignitaries. Rahul Gandhi, they claim, was the only attendee who did not wear it.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the act as insensitive and said it reinforced a long-standing perception of neglect towards the region.
“Times may change, but the attitude of the de facto supremo of the Congress party, Mr Rahul Gandhi, regrettably appears unchanged,” Sarma said in a post on X.
“From the President and the Prime Minister to foreign dignitaries, everyone wore the Patka with respect and pride. Mr. 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”.
How symbolism, protocol and politics collided
The BJP has argued that the issue goes beyond clothing and into constitutional propriety.
Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Rahul Gandhi declined to wear the gamosa even after repeated requests from the President.
Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla said, “When the President asks you twice to wear the ‘Gamosa’ and you refuse, it is also an insult to the President and the constitutional post… He also broke protocols there.”
The Congress has strongly rejected these accusations.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore countered the BJP’s claims by pointing to images from the same reception that showed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh without the Patka.
“We all know that there is a systematic insult towards Opposition leaders, particularly, (Congress President) Mallikarjun Kharge ji and (Congress MP) Rahul Gandhi ji…In (Union Minister) Kiren Rijiju’s video, we saw (Union Minister) Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MoS Education, Jitin Prasada and (Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh were also not wearing the ‘Patka’..”
Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi also dismissed the controversy, accusing the BJP’s IT cell of selective targeting.
“BJP’s IT Cell has raised a lot of questions regarding a few pictures from ‘At-Home’ reception held at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday. When Congress raised the point that what they (BJP IT Cell) are raising regarding Rahul Gandhi also applies to Rajnath Singh, the BJP falls silent. We should rise above such politics…,” Gogoi told ANI.
Protocol questions deepen the controversy
The row has widened to include questions of protocol during Republic Day events.
Sources said Rahul Gandhi made only a brief appearance at the reception and did not stand in the queue of ministers waiting to greet the President. Instead, he chose to sit with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Both leaders left the venue early, a move sources described as a departure from established protocol, which requires guests to remain until the President exits.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi was seated in the fourth row at the Republic Day parade, behind several Union Ministers. The Congress later claimed that the arrangement did not reflect his constitutional position as Leader of the Opposition.
Why the gamosa carries political weight
The gamosa is not merely ceremonial attire in Assam and the North-East. It is more than a piece of cloth. For many in the North-East, the gamosa is a symbol of identity and everyday pride.
That importance was formally recognised in 2022, when Assam’s handwoven gamosa was granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.