Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting Assamese cultural traditions after he allegedly declined to wear a gamosa during a reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

Addressing a gathering in Assam’s Dibrugarh, Shah said Rahul Gandhi was free to act as he wished, but stressed that the ruling party would not tolerate any insult to the culture of the northeastern state. He claimed that other guests at the event, including foreign dignitaries, wore the traditional Assamese scarf as a mark of respect, while Gandhi did not.

The home minister’s remarks came amid heightened political activity in Assam, which is scheduled to go to the polls later this year.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also joined the criticism, saying Rahul Gandhi should learn to respect the culture of Assam and the northeast. Sarma added that those seeking votes from the region must show regard for its traditions.

The BJP leaders cited photographs from the event in which Gandhi appeared to be the only person not wearing the gamosa.

Congress hits back, calls it propaganda

The Congress rejected the BJP’s allegations, accusing the ruling party of attempting to malign Rahul Gandhi through misinformation.

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who was present at the same reception, said the claim that Gandhi insulted Assamese culture was baseless. Kharge asserted that Gandhi was not the only attendee who was not wearing the gamosa and named senior BJP leaders who, according to him, were also not seen wearing it.

Kharge said Gandhi was holding the gamosa and had worn it, dismissing the controversy as political propaganda aimed at damaging the Congress leader’s image. He added that such attempts would not succeed.

The Congress chief also raised a separate issue, alleging that he and Rahul Gandhi were disrespected during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi by being seated in the third row. He claimed they were made to sit behind children and next to ministers of state, and demanded an apology from the government.

Captain Sumit Kapoor, one of the five people killed in the plane crash that claimed the life of Ajit Pawar in Baramati, was not originally assigned to operate the flight, according to his friends. They said Kapoor had stepped in at the last moment after another pilot was delayed due to traffic.

Speaking during Kapoor’s funeral in Delhi, his friends said the veteran pilot had returned from Hong Kong just a few days earlier and received instructions to fly the aircraft only hours before the incident. He was tasked with flying Pawar from Mumbai to Baramati for election-related engagements.

The Learjet 45, operated by a Delhi-based aviation company, took off at around 8 am with Pawar and three others on board. The aircraft crashed around 8:45 am while attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport.

All five people on board died in the crash. The victims included Captain Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali, and Pawar’s security guard Vidip Jadhav.

Sources familiar with the early stage of the investigation said a preliminary probe pointed to a possible pilot misjudgement during landing amid poor visibility. Technical issues are also being examined as part of the ongoing inquiry.

However, Kapoor’s friends rejected suggestions of pilot error, saying he was highly experienced and deeply committed to flying. They stressed that the likelihood of him making a serious mistake was minimal and called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the crash.

Remembering Kapoor, his friends described him as a kind and dedicated professional who loved flying. They said aviation ran in his family, with both his son and son-in-law also working as pilots. Kapoor is survived by his son and daughter, both married, and a brother who runs a business in Gurugram.

One of his friends said Kapoor’s body was identified by a bracelet he was wearing, while another said the news of his death was difficult to accept. A close associate also recalled speaking to Kapoor after his return from Hong Kong, during which the pilot had advised him to take special care of his health.

Ajit Pawar had attempted to bring together the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) last month as a goodwill gesture to his uncle Sharad Pawar on his birthday, but the effort did not succeed, according to NCP (SP) leader Ankush Kakade.

Speaking while paying tribute to the late Maharashtra deputy chief minister, Kakade said Pawar had personally asked him and other senior leaders to help initiate reconciliation talks between the divided factions of the party.

Efforts to reunite NCP before December 12

Kakade said Ajit Pawar had reached out to leaders including Vitthal Sheth Maniar and Srinivas Patil, citing their close association with Sharad Pawar, and urged them to act as intermediaries.

Recalling the conversation, Kakade said Ajit Pawar had expressed his wish for both factions to come together on December 12, Sharad Pawar’s birthday. Although the plan did not materialise at the time, Pawar had indicated that the process could be revisited after elections.

However, the reunion effort remained incomplete, Kakade noted, adding that Pawar was keen on preserving and strengthening the political legacy built by Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar remembered for handling party legacy

Reflecting on his political journey with Ajit Pawar, Kakade said he would always remember how the leader managed internal challenges while remaining mindful of the senior Pawar’s stature within the party.

Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday along with four others when their aircraft crashed near the tabletop runway at Baramati airport in Pune district. Officials said the aircraft caught fire during a second landing attempt amid poor visibility.

Those who lost their lives in the crash included two pilots, Pawar’s personal security officer and a flight attendant.

Leadership questions emerge after Pawar’s death

Following his death, attention has shifted to the future leadership of the NCP. Party voices are calling for Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, currently a Rajya Sabha MP, to take charge as party president and legislative leader.

Sources indicated that if this option faces political or procedural hurdles, senior leader Praful Patel may be considered for the role.