Congress Lok Sabha MP from Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi today criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Parliament accusing the ruling party of showing a narrow-minded approach towards Bengali identity, history and culture.
Speaking during a discussion, Gogoi said that several actions and comments made by BJP leaders reflect a limited understanding of Rabindranath Tagore’s work and the long historical journey of Bengal. He referred specifically to Tagore’s iconic song Amar Sonar Bangla and said that the BJP often dismisses anything related to Bengali language or culture by calling it “Bangladeshi.”
During his remarks, Gogoi claimed that this attitude has created a deep sense of hurt among Bengali-speaking communities, especially in Assam, who have been facing issues of citizenship documentation for several decades. 
Gogoi said that Tagore wrote ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ in 1905 at the time of the first Partition of Bengal, a moment filled with strong emotions and social upheaval. He said that the song was a reflection of the pain and cultural dislocation caused by that period, and it should be understood through that historical lens rather than being labelled as a foreign symbol.
According to Gogoi, “You all have failed to understand Rabindranath Tagore. When you hear the song Amar Sonar Bangla, you label it as Bangladeshi.” He further argued that this was not only a misunderstanding of history, but also a reflection of what he described as a narrow political mindset towards Bengali culture.
He also said that even when Bengali language is heard in Delhi, some people tend to describe it as Bangladeshi, which he claimed is unfair and discriminatory. He said that Bengali language, literature and culture are central to the identity of millions of Indian citizens living in Assam, West Bengal and other parts of the country.
The Congress MP also criticised what he called the “double-engine government” in Assam, stating that the BJP has ruled the state and the Centre for almost ten years, yet issues related to “D-Voters” have still not been solved. Gogoi argued that Bengali-speaking people in Assam have been struggling for a long time to prove that they are Indian citizens, but instead of addressing this long-standing problem, the current government has introduced new legislations that further complicate the citizenship issue.
Gogoi said that ordinary Bengali-origin families in Assam want to live without fear, and want to assert themselves as Indians. However, according to him, the government has brought forward new citizenship-related laws that compel them to prove repeatedly that they are not foreigners. Gogoi said, “Today, Bengali people in Assam want to assert that they are Indian citizens, but you have brought a bill that forces them to prove their citizenship and prove that they are not Bangladeshis.”
He said that this approach has deepened insecurity instead of resolving it. He added that the problem of D-Voters has been pending for many years and that the community continues to face legal uncertainty.
Gogoi said that the ruling party “does not know history” and has not understood the background in which Tagore wrote Amar Sonar Bangla. He said that the song came from a moment of political division and public protest during the British period, and it should be respected for its emotional value rather than questioned for its national identity.
He also said that reducing Bengali culture to a “foreign tag” shows a deeper political bias that must be corrected. According to Gogoi, such remarks are hurting the pride and dignity of Bengali-speaking people who have contributed immensely to India’s cultural heritage.
Gogoi also said that it has now become a common pattern that anything Bengali is immediately associated with Bangladesh, instead of being recognised as part of India’s own cultural and linguistic diversity.
The Congress MP said that instead of solving the core issues that affect Bengalis in Assam, the BJP has focused only on political narratives around identity. He said that after ten years in power, the government cannot say that it has not had time to resolve the concerns of Bengali-speaking residents who continue to live under uncertainty and repeated scrutiny.
He described the situation as “deeply unfortunate” and urged the government to take steps that would remove doubt and ensure dignity for communities facing these challenges.
