A political row erupted on Monday (January 26, 2026) over Rahul Gandhi allegedly refusing to wear an Assamese Gamosa given to all the guests at a reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, with the BJP alleging that the Congress leader insulted the country’s northeast.
The BJP also accused the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha of showing disregard for Ms. Murmu by not wearing the Gamosa, while the Congress countered by pointing out that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also not worn the “patka [scarf]”.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma demanded an “unconditional apology” from Mr. Gandhi, alleging that it was deeply insensitive and insulting to the people of the entire northeast, with the Congress leader choosing not to wear the traditional patka, which is a symbol of the region’s rich cultural heritage.
The development took place after a section of the media claimed that all guests except Mr. Gandhi wore the Gamosa presented to them at the event.
Citing certain media reports, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a post on X, “Shameful! Rahul Gandhi has insulted the northeast and also disrespected our very hon’ble President.”
Hitting out at Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Sarma said times might change, but the attitude of the “de facto supremo” of the Congress “regrettably” appeared unchanged.
“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 northeast,” the Assam Chief Minister wrote on X.
Such a conduct explained why his party has “lost the trust of the region and much of the country. Yet, this repeated insensitivity continues”, he charged.
“Mr. Gandhi must issue an unconditional apology to the people of the northeast for this affront. The people of the region deserve respect,” he added.
The Congress hit back at the BJP with the party media and publicity department head Pawan Khera posting on X a picture of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, asking the Assam Chief Minister if he would demand an apology from Mr. 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?” Mr. Khera asked, tagging both Mr. Singh and Mr. Sarma in his post on the micro-blogging platform.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also slammed the BJP over the issue and asked the Assam Chief Minister why Mr. Singh did not wear the northeast patka.
“The 2016 batch of betrayers must stop this nonsense. Why is @rajnathsingh ji not wearing the North East patka then? Stop dragging the Hon’ble President @rashtrapatibhvn into your cheap politics,” Mr. Tagore said in a post on X.
This comes on a day the Congress accused the NDA Government of insulting the Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, respectively, by seating them in the third row during the Republic Day parade event at Kartavya Path.
Sharing pictures of their leaders seated in the back rows during the ceremony, several Congress leaders raised questions over the “protocol mess-up” and propriety.
Hitting back, Mr. Poonawalla accused the Congress of putting “entitlement and ego” as well as “parivar and position” of the Gandhi family above the people.
“They feel ‘parivar tantra (family system)’ is above ‘sanvidhan tantra (constitutional system)’. Seating is decided by a set format — Warrant or Table of Precedence. One can see even senior Cabinet Ministers around or even behind Rahul Gandhi but none of them made it an issue,” the BJP spokesperson said in a post on X.
Rahul thinks he is the owner of India? By the way, why does he bunk important programmes? Where was he during the V-P Oath? CJI Oath? I-Day programme?” Mr. Poonawalla asked.
Reacting sharply, another BJP national spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, accused the Congress of politicising the seating arrangements at the Republic Day and called Mr. Gandhi an “insincere politician”.
“Shameful of the Congress to politicise even seating arrangements at Republic Day’. Rahul Gandhi is an insincere politician, who chooses politics over national interest,” Mr. Bhandari charged.
Published – January 27, 2026 12:50 am IST
