Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma denounced the statements made by Bangladesh's interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus on the seven north-eastern Indian states as both offensive and unacceptable.
While announcing his statement, the Chief Minister also emphasized the way Yunus's words amplify the continuing weakness of the "Chicken Neck" corridor, which is an essential thin strip of land through which Northeast India remains connected to the rest of India.
On his X handle, CM Sarma posted, "The claim made by Md Yunus of Bangladesh's self-styled interim government calling Northeast India's seven sister states landlocked and casting Bangladesh as their guardian of maritime access is objectionable and vociferously condemnworthy."
He added, "This statement highlights the ongoing vulnerability narrative over India's strategic 'Chicken's Neck' corridor. Historically, even within India, some sections have perilously proposed severing this lifeline to physically separate the Northeast from the mainland."
The Chief Minister added, "Hence, it is crucial to upgrade the railway and road infrastructure within and around the Chicken's Neck corridor.". Furthermore, initiatives to map alternative road corridors linking the Northeast to mainland India directly without using the Chicken's Neck must be a priority. Though this may entail formidable engineering tasks, it can be done with grit and creativity. Such challenging comments by Md Yunus should not be dismissed because they betray underlying strategic goals and long-standing agendas.
Muhammad Yunus during his four-day China visit emphasized more economic coordination between Bangladesh and China. He proposed that China expand its economic activities to India's seven northeastern states, which he said are landlocked and would gain from nautical access through Bangladesh.
Addressing a top-level roundtable on "sustainable infrastructure and energy" in The Presidential Hotel in Beijing, Yunus focused on Bangladesh's geopolitical significance as the "single custodian of the ocean" in South Asia.
Referring to India's seven northeastern states, collectively the Seven Sisters, which do not have direct access to the sea, he underlined that it was a moment for Bangladesh to act as an enabler to link up China with connectivity and economic activities.
India would naturally be cautious about any increasing Chinese presence in the surrounding areas, especially given Bangladesh's geographical location close to the Siliguri Corridor, also called the Chicken's Neck. This is a strip of land that is critical for linking Northeast India to the rest of India.
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