Siliguri, February 7, 2026 – Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP and BJP leader Raju Bista today expressed strong outrage over alleged derogatory comments made by a Congress spokesperson against a Gorkha panelist during a live TV debate in Assam, calling it an act of humiliation towards the entire Gorkha community.
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Bista revealed that he has written a formal letter to Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President and MP Gaurav Gogoi, registering his protest and demanding a written apology to the Gorkha community.
Bista accused the Congress party of repeatedly insulting and looking down upon Gorkhas. He highlighted that Assam Congress spokesperson Sahijuddin Ahmed made “downright derogatory remarks” against Gorkha panelist Ranjib Sharma during the debate.
The MP reminded the Congress that a Gorkha icon, Babu Chabilal Upadhyay, founded the party in Assam in 1921. Despite this historical contribution, he claimed the party has a pattern of mistreatment, including listing Gorkhas as Doubtful Voters under Congress governments and removing their “protected” status in Tribal Belt and Blocks. He added that even the daughter of Assam Congress founder Babu Chabilal Upadhyay was once labeled a Doubtful Voter.
“This humiliation of a Gorkha intellectual on a live TV show has not only hurt the sentiments of Gorkhas in Assam but has humiliated Gorkhas across India,” Bista wrote.
While noting that the Congress has suspended the spokesperson from his post, Bista argued that this action is insufficient. He called for the individual’s complete removal from the party and a formal written apology to the Gorkha community.
The post included a photo and a short video clip purportedly showing the controversial remarks, amplifying the issue among political circles and the Gorkha diaspora.
Bista’s strong reaction comes amid heightened political sensitivities in the Northeast and hill regions ahead of upcoming elections, where community sentiments play a key role. The Congress has not issued an immediate response to Bista’s letter or demands.
