Rahul Gandhis Gamocha Remark Sparks Controversy, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Hits Back

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments on the Gamocha, a cultural symbol of Assam, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Sarma shared video clips of Gandhis speeches and defended the significance of the Gamocha in Assamese culture.

Guwahati, Jan 24: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent comments during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the state, particularly his remarks on the Gamocha, a traditional scarf or hand towel that holds cultural and symbolic significance in Assam.

Sarma Corrects Gandhi's Misinterpretation of Gamocha

In a series of tweets, Sarma shared video clips of Gandhi's speeches at public rallies and countered his statements. He emphasized that the Gamocha is not merely a towel for wiping the body but a symbol of Assam's self-respect. Sarma explained the various types of Gamocha and its significance in Assamese culture, especially during the Bihu festival, where it is offered as a mark of respect and to honor guests.

Gandhi's Allegations of Cultural Disrespect

During his speeches, Gandhi had claimed that the ruling dispensation in Assam was insulting the state's pride by referring to the Gamocha as a towel. He interpreted the word "Gamocha" literally as "Ga" meaning body and "Mocha" meaning to wipe. Gandhi alleged that the BJP-RSS was attempting to wipe out the language, culture, and history of Assam.

Sarma Questions Gandhi's Knowledge and Intentions

In response, Sarma expressed his astonishment at Gandhi's remarks, questioning whether he was being misinformed or deliberately making baseless statements. He also referred to Gandhi's earlier comment about making gold from potatoes, highlighting the absurdity of his statements.

Sarma Ridicules Gandhi's Cowardice

Sarma further criticized Gandhi for his actions during the Yatra, accusing him of instigating violence among Congress workers and then fleeing the city in a small car to avoid potential confrontations. He labeled Gandhi as a "Darpok" (coward) for his behavior.

Gandhi's Selective Engagement with Different Communities

Sarma also shared photographs from the Yatra, showing Gandhi inside a bus with captions indicating the presence of Hindu and Muslim majority areas. He commented on the selective engagement of Gandhi with different communities, expressing happiness that women from Muslim-majority areas did not participate in the Yatra.

Sarma's Response to Claims of Large Turnouts

In response to a Congress supporter's claim about the massive turnout of people to hear Gandhi in Dhubri, Sarma pointed out that the majority of the crowd belonged to the minority community, as the area is represented by Maulana Badrudding Ajmal, with 85% of voters from the minority community.

Ongoing Verbal Duel Between Gandhi and Sarma

The verbal duel between Gandhi and Sarma has been ongoing since the Yatra began in Assam on January 18. The march is set to enter West Bengal on Thursday.