Why Rahul Gandhi ditched t-shirt for kurta during SIR debate
What's the story
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday donned a khadi kurta in Parliament, replacing his usual polo t-shirt look. The change was not just a fashion statement but also carried a political message. Speaking during the debate on electoral reforms, he linked his attire to Mahatma Gandhi's principles of self-sufficiency and equality.
Political symbolism
Gandhi's khadi kurta symbolizes India's unity, equality
Gandhi said, "Aaj pehna hun khadi," responding to comments from members of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance on his outfit choice. He explained that khadi is a symbol of equality and the "spirit of India." The Congress leader argued that just like different fabrics represent different states in India, they also symbolize unity.
Remarks
Parliament won't exist without vote: Gandhi
"Because Khadi is not just a cloth. Khadi is the expression of the people of India... Whichever state you go to, you will find different fabrics. Himachali cap, Assamese Gomcha, Banarsi Saree, Kanchipuram Saree, Naga jacket. And you will find that all these fabrics represent the people." "In the same way, our nation is also a fabric made up of 1.4 billion people, and the fabric is woven together by the vote," he said.
Accusations leveled
Gandhi accuses RSS-BJP of undermining electoral integrity
During the debate, Gandhi also accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to undermine equal rights like voting. He alleged that the RSS's project did not end after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination by Nathuram Godse. "As I said, everything has emerged from the vote....So it's obvious...the RSS has to capture all the institutions that have emerged from it. After Gandhiji's assassination, the next step of the project was the wholesale capture of India's institutional framework."
Fraud allegations
Gandhi alleges electoral fraud in Haryana
Gandhi also alleged electoral fraud in Haryana, claiming a Brazilian woman appears 22 times on the state's voter list. He claimed this was part of an effort to "steal" elections with help from the Election Commission. "A Brazilian woman appears 22 times on the Haryana voter list, and another woman's name appears 200 times in a single booth. I have clearly shown that the Haryana election was stolen, and that this was enabled by the Election Commission of India."
Twitter Post
Biggest anti-national act is vote-chori: Gandhi
#WATCH | In the Lok Sabha, LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "The biggest anti-national act you can do is vote-chori. There is no bigger anti-national act than vote-chori because when you destroy the vote, you destroy the fabric of this country. You destroy modern India, you… pic.twitter.com/23CdqPai1l
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2025