PM Narendra Modi wearing Himachali 'topi' in Israel comes as boost for BJP workers

UNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wearing the traditional Himachali ‘topi’ in Israel has come as a boost for BJP workers in the state, where assembly polls are due later this year.

Within hours of TV screens flashing Modi in a Himachali cap with a maroon band, BJP’s Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur took the cue to highlight PM’s liking for Himachal Pradesh at a public meeting in Una. In a state where affiliation to a political party is identified by the colour of the cap one wears, the maroon band has been long associated with BJP. As against green that symbolises political affiliation to Congress.

“Modiji ne Himachali topi ko sar ka taaj banaya hai (cap as crown),” Thakur said during his Parivartan Yatra, which commenced last month. Thakur is likely to take the message to more constituencies.




Thakur hit out at his political rival, incumbent Congress chief minister Virbhadra Singh. “Himachal ki shaan hai Himachal ki topi. Is topi ko badnaam kiya Virbhadra ne aur ek nayi pehchaan di Modiji ne (the pride of Himachal is it’s cap. While Virbhadra has brought disrepute to it, Modiji has given it a new identity globally),” Thakur thundered.

Speak to the rural folk and they appear jubilant as well. “Modiji to apne hi hain, yahin se to gaye hain (Modi is our own. His political career bloomed here only),” smiles Rudra Pratap, an Octogenarian, reminding Modi’s long association with Himachal.

Before he rose from the ranks, Modi was in charge of Himachal BJP many years ago. And why only Israel, interrupts young 26-year-old old Vivek Thakur, who quickly reminds us of Modi’s gift to US President Donald Trump.

“To present Himachali gifts to the president of World’s strongest economy is a matter of honour for us.” Prime Minster Modi, in his maiden face-to-face meeting with Trump, had gifted him a handcrafted Himachali silver bracelet, tea and honey from Kangra.

BJP state unit is using social media to spread the message. From Facebook to local Whatsapp groups, pictures of Modi wearing the Himachali cap are being sent by BJP supporters to garner support. While the cap with maroon band has its origin in Sirmour, the one with green originates from Kinnaur.

The maroon symbolises the descendants of lower Sirmour near Shimla, while green is symbolic of the descendants of erstwhile rulers of Rampur Bushehar Estate in upper Shimla. And somewhere lost between the two is the colourful and vibrant Kullu cap, popularly identified by the rest of the countrymen as the Himachali cap. It is also one that most tourists, especially Israeli tourists, buy and wear as they visit Manali in droves.