GUWAHATI, April 1: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday strongly condemned the statement made by Bangladesh’s interim government’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus regarding the seven northeastern states of India. Sarma termed the remarks as offensive and an attempt to undermine India’s territorial sovereignty.
Taking to his X handle, CM Sarma stated, “The statement made by Md Younis of Bangladesh so-called interim Government referring to the seven sister states of Northeast India as landlocked and positioning Bangladesh as their guardian of ocean access, is offensive and strongly condemnable.”
The Chief Minister further emphasized that Yunus’s remarks highlight the vulnerabilities of the strategic “Chicken Neck” corridor, a narrow strip of land that connects the northeastern region to the rest of India.
“This remark underscores the persistent vulnerability narrative associated with India’s strategic ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor. Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested severing this critical passageway to isolate the Northeast from the mainland physically,” Sarma noted in his statement.
He further elaborated on the necessity of infrastructural development to mitigate the risks associated with the corridor. “Therefore, it is imperative to develop more robust railway and road networks both underneath and around the Chicken’s Neck corridor. Additionally, exploring alternative road routes connecting the Northeast to mainland India, effectively bypassing the Chicken’s Neck, should be prioritized. Though this may pose significant engineering challenges, it is achievable with determination and innovation,” he stated.
CM Sarma also urged for vigilance against such statements, adding, “Such provocative statements by Md Younis must not be taken lightly, as they reflect deeper strategic considerations and longstanding agendas.”
Yunus, during his four-day visit to China, advocated for closer economic ties between Bangladesh and China. He proposed that China’s economic engagement could extend to India’s northeastern states, asserting that the region is landlocked and would benefit from access through Bangladesh.
At a high-level roundtable on “Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy” held at The Presidential Hotel in Beijing, Yunus positioned Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” in the region. He pointed out that the northeastern states, collectively called the Seven Sisters, lack direct access to the sea. He suggested that this situation presents a major opportunity, allowing the region to act as an economic extension of China.
India is likely to perceive any increased Chinese influence in Bangladesh with concern, given the latter’s strategic location. Several locations in Bangladesh are in close proximity to the Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the Chicken’s Neck, making the issue even more sensitive for Indian policymakers.
