Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of showing disrespect to Assam and the wider Northeast by refusing to wear a traditional gamucha at a Republic Day event.
Addressing a public gathering at the Khanikar Parade Ground in Dibrugarh, Shah said the incident took place during the President’s ‘At Home’ reception on January 26, where guests were offered gamuchas as a mark of respect for Northeast culture. According to Shah, every dignitary followed the custom—except Rahul Gandhi.
“On that day, everyone wore the North-East gamucha. There was only one person who did not. That person was Rahul Gandhi,” Shah said, drawing loud reactions from the crowd.
The Home Minister questioned Gandhi’s intentions and accused him of repeatedly ignoring the traditions of the region. “What kind of hostility is this towards the people of the Northeast? Why does he repeatedly disrespect their culture?” Shah asked.
Reinforcing the BJP’s stand, Shah said cultural identity of the Northeast would be protected as long as his party remains in power. “Rahul Gandhi can do whatever he wants, but as long as the BJP is in politics, no one can shake the culture of the Northeast,” he said.
Shah contrasted Gandhi’s conduct with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global outreach, saying Assam’s cultural symbols are now being showcased on international platforms. “Today, the Prime Minister takes Assam’s gamucha to the United Nations. He speaks about Shankar Dev and Madhav Dev and introduces our culture to the world,” Shah added.
The Union Home Minister also accused the Congress of neglecting Assam during its years in power. “I want to ask Rahul Gandhi—what did Congress give Assam except violence, unrest and the loss of young lives?” he said.
Raising the issue of illegal immigration, Shah alleged that the Congress had treated infiltration as a political tool. “Since the BJP came to power, infiltration has stopped. Those who entered the country illegally will be identified and sent back,” he asserted.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from state leaders. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Gandhi’s refusal to wear the gamucha was not a one-time incident. “He does this repeatedly. Whenever he visits Assam, he refuses to wear the traditional gamosa. It has now become a pattern,” Sarma said.
