Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor (left) and Rahul Gandhi are often seen in colour attire.
Credit: PTI Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: Causing embarrassment to many Congress leaders who are noticed by their dashing attires, a senior Congress leader in Kerala has lamented over young leaders deserting the traditional khadi/khaddar dress.
Congress leader Ajay Tharayil's comments even brought to focus the t-shirts in which AICC top leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi often appears.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and many young leaders from Kerala who often appear in colourful attire seem to be the other targets.
Tharayil expressed his displeasure over youngsters abandoning khadi dress at a camp of Youth Congress the other day. He also shared his concern on social media.
"Why is the young generation showing resentment towards khaddar. Khadar dress represents secularism and is a strong weapon against capitalism. Not wearing khaddar is not a new gen style, but escaping from basic values. Why should we follow the DYFI (CPI(M)'s youth outfit)," he asked.
The post triggered a series of comments with many citing the difficulties in maintaining the khadi dress by putting starch and ironing.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph, who are mostly seen in khadi shirts, said that choice of dress were individual choices and the party could not prescribe any dress code.
Some traditional khadi vendors in the state capital used to lament that since the Congress is not in power in Kerala for nearly ten years, the demand for khadi is also bleak. There used to be a mad rush for khadi shirts whenever Congress came to power.