The Assam State Committee of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) has strongly condemned what it described as a derogatory and racially offensive remark made during a televised political debate, calling the incident an insult to the dignity and identity of the Gorkha community.
The controversy arose after an Assam Congress spokesperson, Shahijuddin Ahmed, allegedly used the term “Nepali” in a demeaning manner while referring to BJP spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sarmah during a live debate aired on ND24 television on Friday. The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh stated that the repeated use of the term as an insult was deeply hurtful and unacceptable, especially considering the long-standing contributions of the Gorkha community to the country.
In a statement issued to the media, Amar Adhikari, President of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Assam State Committee, said the remark was not merely an accidental statement but reflected what he described as a “dangerous mindset” that attempts to question the identity of Indian Gorkhas. He said that lakhs of Gorkhas living across India are proud citizens who have served the nation in many fields, including the armed forces, public administration, and social service, and any attempt to portray them as outsiders is historically incorrect and socially harmful.
Adhikari also expressed concern that such remarks were made on a widely viewed public platform. He questioned how the political party allowed such a representative to participate in the debate and demanded clarification from the party leadership on whether the comment reflected its official position. According to him, silence on the issue could be interpreted as acceptance, and therefore senior leaders must respond clearly and promptly.
The organization specifically called upon senior Assam Congress leaders, including state president Gaurav Gogoi, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, and senior leader Bhupen Borah, to publicly condemn the remark and issue an unconditional apology to the Gorkha community. The BGP said that a clear statement from the leadership was necessary to restore trust and maintain social harmony.
Reacting to the incident, Nanda Kirati Dewan, General Secretary of the Assam Pradesh Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, said the matter should not be viewed through the lens of party politics. He stated that the issue was about respect for communities and the need to maintain harmony among different groups living in Assam. Dewan said that words that insult identities create division and mistrust and that Assam has always been known for its tradition of unity in diversity. According to him, such divisive language should have no place in civil political discussions or public debates.
The organization also pointed out that during the debate, the BJP spokesperson had mentioned the contribution of freedom fighter Babu Chabilal Upadhyay, who belonged to the Gorkha community and played an important role in the early formation of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee from the Assam Association nearly a century ago. Despite the debate anchor reportedly asking for clarification and urging restraint, the Congress spokesperson did not issue an apology during the live broadcast, which further intensified the reaction from community organizations.
The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh warned that if an apology is not issued, members of the Gorkha community in Assam may consider democratic and constitutional means to register their protest. The organization also indicated that it may call upon community members to politically respond to the issue, including considering electoral decisions in the forthcoming Assembly elections.