US EditionRahul ‘insulted’ northeast by not wearing Gamosa at reception hosted by President: BJP
BJP leaders demand apology from Rahul Gandhi for not wearing the traditional North-East patka, while Congress cites protocol and notes other leaders also omitted it.
- On Jan 26, 2026, Rahul Gandhi did not wear the traditional patka presented at the President's At Home reception in New Delhi, and he left the occasion early after sitting behind some Union ministers.
- Organisers presented patkas to guests, and BJP said everyone, including President Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister of India, wore them, but Congress rebutted citing protocol and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's similar omission.
- Social media posts by senior figures showed BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla called the episode 'Shameful' and criticized Congress for entitlement and ego, while Manickam Tagore posted, `The 2016 batch of betrayers must stop this nonsense...` on X.
- The exchanges quickly led to calls for an apology and questions about seating, as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma demanded an "unconditional apology" and Congress highlighted a protocol mess-up with the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha sitting with Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President.
- The dispute widened as each side traded accusations: BJP called Congress insincere for politicising seating, while Congress posted a photo of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh without the patka.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Rahul Gandhi's refusal to wear the traditional North-Eastern turban during the Republic Day At Home Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan sparked controversy. The BJP called it an insult to the people of the Northeast. The Congress, meanwhile, hit back by sharing a photo of Rajnath Singh, who was also present at the same event, without his turban.
Rahul Gandhi didn't wear northeast patka despite President's requests, claims BJP
BJP's Information and Technology (IT) chief Amit Malviya even claimed on X that Rahul Gandhi didn't oblige even after President Droupadi Murmu reminded him twice in the 'At Home Reception' at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister questioned Rahul's solo act of defiance, pointing out that everyone from PM Modi to foreign dignitaries had worn it.
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