New Delhi [India], January 26 : Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for demanding an apology from Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi after he "chose not to wear North Eastern Patka" during the 'At Home reception' at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Republic Day.
Sharing an image of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, where he was not wearing the Patka, Pawan Khera asked Sarma, "Will you seek an apology from @rajnathsingh ji too?"
He questioned the Assam CM's strategy of raising "non-issues" to fight anti-incumbency ahead of the upcoming state assembly election.
"Or your entire strategy to fight anti-incumbency is to pick up such non-issues?" Pawan Khera said.
{{{{twitter_post_id####}}}}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
This comes after the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of "disrespecting the culture and people of North-East" by "choosing not to wear Patka".
Sarma strongly condemned Rahul Gandhi's actions, which he believed "reinforced a perception of disregard towards the North".
"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, 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," the Assam CM said in a post on X.
"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. Yet, this repeated insensitivity continues," he added.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also shared the picture of Defence Minister 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.
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