Gamosa row: Congress cites Rajnath Singh to rebut Assam CM’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi
The Congress on Monday pushed back against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s demand that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi apologise for not wearing a North Eastern patka at the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a photograph of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the same event without the patka and questioned Sarma’s stance. “Will you seek an apology from @rajnathsingh ji too?” Khera asked in a post on X.
He also accused the Assam Chief Minister of manufacturing controversy to counter anti-incumbency ahead of the state assembly elections. “Or your entire strategy to fight anti-incumbency is to pick up such non-issues?” Khera said.
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? https://t.co/oEiqJakWuh pic.twitter.com/qE189gxqb8— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) January 26, 2026
Background
The BJP had earlier accused Rahul Gandhi of “disrespecting the culture and people of the North-East” by “choosing not to wear the patka” at the reception.
Strongly criticising Gandhi, Sarma said the Congress leader’s actions reflected a continuing disregard for the region. “Times may change, but the attitude of the de facto supremo of the Congress party, Mr Rahul Gandhi, regrettably appears unchanged,” he wrote on X.
VIDEO | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) attends the 'At Home' reception being hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of India's 77th Republic Day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President António… pic.twitter.com/3cC1ra7qDF— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 26, 2026
“In an act that was deeply insensitive and insulting to the people of the entire North East, Gandhi chose not to wear the traditional patka, a symbol of the region’s rich cultural heritage, at the reception hosted by the President of India this evening,” Sarma added.
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He further claimed that Gandhi’s conduct set him apart from others present. “From the President and the Prime Minister to foreign dignitaries, everyone wore the patka with respect and pride. 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,” Sarma said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also weighed in, sharing an image of Rajnath Singh without the patka. “The 2016 batch of betrayers must stop this nonsense. Why is Rajnath Singh ji not wearing the North east patka then? Stop dragging the Hon’ble President into your cheap politics,” Tagore posted on X.