Republic Day 2026: After Congress leaders accused the BJP government of intentionally ‘insulting’ the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, by allotting him a seat in the third row during the Republic Day Parade, a new controversy has erupted between Congress and the BJP.  

The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has alleged that Rahul Gandhi chose not to wear the northeastern Patka despite the President’s request, accusing him of insulting the people of the entire northeast. 

Assam CM Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly condemned Rahul Gandhi’s actions, which he believed “reinforced a perception of disregard towards the North.” 

As per BJP leaders, the Patka was worn by everyone at the Home reception, including President Murmu, PM Modi and foreign dignitaries. 

“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,” the Assam CM said in a post on X.

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BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla Calls It Insult To President

BJP’s national spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, hit back at the Congress’s allegations of insulting Rahul Gandhi by allotting a third row seat, saying, refusal to wear a Patka is also an “insult” to the President Droupadi Murmu. 

“RAHUL GANDHI REJECTS NORTH EAST GAMOSA despite President of India requesting him to wear it Rahul Gandhi hates NORTH EAST AND ITS CULTURE AND PEOPLE HE INSULTED THE PRESIDENT FROM ADIVASI SAMAJ HIS FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BETRAYED NORTH EAST THEY BOMBED NORTH EAST KEPT IT AWAY FROM DEVELOPMENT AND INFRA THEY WANTED TO GIVE UP ASSAM IN 1962 Rahul regularly refuses Assamese Gamosa and he even cut off Assam from the Map of India during BJ Yatra,” he said.

Congress MP Hits Back With Defence Minister Picture: 

However, the Congress hit back, sharing a picture of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh without the Patka. 

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"The 2016 batch of betrayer 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," posted Congress MP Manickam Tagore.

 

With ANI Inputs