Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Terming Bangladesh government’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’ comment on the northeastern states as ‘offensive’, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned it. The Government of India will definitely take a strong step, he said.
The Chief Minister said that ‘such provocative statements made by Md Yunus must not be taken lightly, as they reflect deeper strategic considerations and long-lasting agendas’.
Muhammad Yunus advocated for closer economic ties with China during his four-day visit to the country. He proposed that China’s engagement could extend to India’s seven northeastern states, emphasising that they are landlocked and could benefit from access through Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister said, “This remark underscores the persistent vulnerability narrative associated with India’s strategic chicken-neck corridor. Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested serving this critical passageway to isolate the northeast from the mainland physically. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a more robust railway and road network both underneath and around the chicken-neck corridor.”
The Chief Minister said, “Additionally, exploring alternative routes connecting the Northeast to mainland India, effectively bypassing the chicken-neck, should be prioritize. Though this may pose significant engineering challenges, it is achievable with determination and innovation.”
During a high-level roundtable on ‘sustainable infrastructure and energy’ at The Presidential Hotel in Beijing, Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s unique position as the ‘only guardian of the ocean’ in the region. He pointed out that India’s northeastern states, collectively called the Seven Sisters, lack direct access to the sea. Yunus said that this situation presents a major opportunity, as the region could serve as an extension of the Chinese economy.
India may view any increasing Chinese influence in its neighbouring regions with concern, given Bangladesh’s strategic significance. Several locations in Bangladesh are near the Siliguri Corridor.
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