Guwahati: Union HM Amit Shah on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of showing “enmity with the people of the northeast” by refusing to wear a traditional ‘gamosa’ presented by President Droupadi Murmu at the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception.“The ‘gamosa’ is a symbol of respect in Assam and the northeast. At the Rashtrapati Bhavan, everyone, including EU leaders wore it, but Rahul Gandhi was the only person who refused,” Shah told a rally in Dibrugarh. He said Gandhi’s refusal amounted to disrespect of the region’s culture. “I want to ask Congress why Rahul did not put on the scarf. What enmity does he have with the people of the northeast? Rahul can do whatever he wants, but as long as BJP is in politics, no one can shake the cultural values of northeast,” Shah said.The controversy has created a political impact in Assam after CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Jan 26 demanded an unconditional apology from Rahul for “insulting the sentiments of the people of the North East.”“Times may change, but the attitude of the de facto supremo of the Congress party, Mr Rahul Gandhi, regrettably appears unchanged. 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,” Sarma had written on X.“Such conduct explains why his party has lost the trust of the region and much of the country. Yet, this repeated insensitivity continues. Mr Rahul Gandhi must issue an unconditional apology to the people of the North East for this affront. The people of the region deserve respect,” Sarma added.
