The comments made by Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to Bangladesh's interim government, regarding the Northeastern states have sparked strong reactions in India. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the remarks "offensive," while Congress leader Pawan Khera described Dhaka's stance as dangerous for the Northeast and raised concerns about the Centre's foreign policy.
A video of Yunus's remarks, reportedly made during his four-day visit to China, has been circulating on social media. In it, Yunus is heard saying, "The seven states of India, the eastern part of India, are called the seven sisters. They are a landlocked region of India, with no way to access the ocean." He went on to describe Bangladesh as the "guardian of the ocean" for the region and suggested that this could present significant opportunities, potentially extending to the Chinese economy.
The remarks came amid Dhaka's outreach to Beijing in the aftermath of the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina regime. India, which has given refuge to the former Prime Minister, has been watching the interim government's geopolitical moves. Dhaka and Delhi have exchanged stern remarks after India raised concerns over reports of attacks on minorities. In a friendly gesture on Bangladesh's Liberation Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to Yunus, reiterating India's commitment to advancing the partnership between the two countries.
The Bangladesh leader's remarks have now stoked tensions again. Assam Chief Minister Sarma has hit out at Yunus's remarks and said it is imperative to develop more robust rail and road networks connecting the Northeast to the rest of the country.
The statement by Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh's so-called interim government, referring to the seven sister states of Northeast India as "landlocked" and positioning Bangladesh as their "guardian" for ocean access, has sparked strong condemnation. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the remark "offensive" and "strongly condemnable," emphasizing that it highlights the ongoing vulnerability associated with India's strategic "Chicken's Neck" corridor.
The Chicken's Neck is a narrow land passage in West Bengal's Siliguri that connects the Northeast region to the rest of India, bordered by Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
"Historically, there have been dangerous suggestions, even from within India, to sever this critical corridor, physically isolating the Northeast from the mainland. It is crucial to enhance railway and road networks beneath and around the Chicken's Neck corridor.
Additionally, we must prioritize exploring alternative road routes that bypass this corridor to connect the Northeast with the mainland," Sarma said.
"While this presents significant engineering challenges, it is achievable with determination and innovation. Such provocative remarks from Yunus should not be ignored, as they reflect deeper strategic motives and longstanding agendas," he added.
Pradyot Manikya, leader of the Tipra Motha party in Tripura, responded sharply to Yunus바카라™s comments. "It바카라™s time for India to create a route to the ocean by supporting our indigenous people who once ruled Chittagong, so we are no longer dependent on an ungrateful regime," he stated. "India바카라™s biggest mistake was letting go of the port in 1947, despite the hill people there wanting to be part of the Indian Union.
Yunus may see himself as the guardian of the ocean, but in reality, he is a stopgap leader nearing 85. Let바카라™s not forget, Tripura is only a few miles away from the port he refers to," Manikya added.
Manikya also weighed in on Sarma's infrastructure push. "Instead of spending billions on difficult engineering solutions, why not break up Bangladesh and gain our own access to the sea? The Chittagong hill tracts were always inhabited by indigenous tribes who have wanted to be part of India since 1947. There are large numbers of Tripuri, Garo, Khasi, and Chakma people in Bangladesh living in poor conditions on their ancestral lands. This should be leveraged for our national interest and their well-being," he said.
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized Bangladesh's stance as a threat to India바카라™s Northeast. "Bangladesh is inviting China to encircle India. The government is ignoring the situation in Manipur, and China has even established a village in Arunachal Pradesh. Our foreign policy is in such a deplorable state that the country, for whose creation we played a pivotal role, is now trying to surround us," Khera remarked.
Gaurav Gogoi, a senior Congress leader from Assam, also expressed concern over Yunus's comments. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently wrote to Bangladesh, highlighting the strong ties between our nations. Yunus's remarks on Northeast India and China are deeply troubling and unacceptable, as they undermine India바카라™s sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Modi바카라™s economic advisory council, questioned Yunus바카라™s focus on the Northeast. "It's interesting that Yunus is making a public appeal to China, citing the landlocked status of seven Indian states. China is welcome to invest in Bangladesh, but what is the relevance of the seven Indian states being landlocked?" Sanyal asked.
