A brewing cultural controversy has pitted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against Rahul Gandhi, with the CM lambasting the Congress scion for insensitivity to the state’s cherished patka tradition. Viral clips from a recent event show Gandhi seemingly disregarding the protocol for the gamocha, a cloth emblematic of Assamese hospitality and pride.
In Digboi on Tuesday, amid a state function, Sarma confronted the press. ‘No surprise here – it’s his ongoing pattern of disrespect to Assam and Northeast sentiments,’ he charged. Citing previous occurrences, he opted not to belabor the point but delivered a stern appeal for change.
Sarma firmly rejected legal intervention. ‘Respect is an affair of the heart, not enforceable by law,’ he declared, positioning cultural adherence as a moral imperative beyond state machinery.
BJP leaders have echoed the CM’s outrage, framing it as systemic Congress arrogance towards peripheral identities. The party is leveraging the narrative in its campaign arsenal. Congress rebutted by decrying it as manufactured drama to sideline real issues like economic growth and infrastructure.
This flare-up amplifies pre-election frictions in Assam, where cultural insignia often fuel voter mobilization. Sarma’s call – master respect before politicking here – encapsulates Northeast grievances against perceived Delhi-centric attitudes. As tensions simmer, it signals how symbolic gestures can profoundly impact political fortunes in culturally vibrant states.