Yunus’ remark on North-East draws Indian leaders’ wrath
Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ remarks on the North-Eastern states being landlocked and describing his country as the guardian of the ocean have drawn sharp reactions in India, particularly from leaders in the region. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the comments “offensive”, while Tripura leader Pradyot Manikya said Yunus needed a reality check.
Congress MP from Jorhat, Assam, Gaurav Gogoi noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently written to Bangladesh, highlighting the “strong ties” between the two nations. “After that, Muhammad Yunus’ recent remarks about North-East India and China are deeply concerning and unacceptable, as they undermine India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Gogoi said.
A video of Yunus’ remarks, reportedly made during his four-day trip to China, has been circulating on social media. In it, he 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. They have no way to reach out to the ocean.”
He further stated that Bangladesh is the ‘guardian of the ocean’ for the region and added, “This opens up a huge possibility. This could be an extension for the Chinese economy.”
Sarma strongly condemned Yunus’ statement, calling it “offensive” and emphasising the strategic importance of the Chicken’s Neck Corridor — a narrow stretch of land in Siliguri, West Bengal, connecting the North-East to the rest of India. “This remark underscores the persistent vulnerability narrative associated with India’s strategic ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor,” he said in a post on X.
Sarma stressed the need for stronger rail and road networks around the corridor, as well as alternative road routes bypassing it to ensure better connectivity between the North-East and the rest of India.
Yunus’ remark also drew a sharp response from Pradyot Manikya, leader of the Tipra Motha party in Tripura. “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 said.
“India’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 think he is the guardian of the ocean, but the reality is he is a stop-gap leader at nearly 85 years old. Let’s not forget Tripura is only a few miles away from the port he is speaking about,” he added.
Manikya also reacted to Sarma’s infrastructure push, suggesting a more radical approach. “Rather than spending billions on innovative and challenging engineering ideas, we might as well break up Bangladesh and secure our own access to the sea. The Chittagong Hill Tracts were always inhabited by indigenous tribes who wanted to be part of India since 1947. There are lakhs of Tripuri, Garo, Khasi and Chakma people living in Bangladesh under terrible conditions in their traditional lands. This should be leveraged for our national interest and their wellbeing,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera accused Bangladesh of inviting China to encircle India. “The Bangladesh Government’s approach is very dangerous for the security of the North-East. The government is ignoring Manipur while China has already built a village in Arunachal Pradesh. Our foreign policy is in such a deplorable state that a country whose creation we played a major role in is now actively trying to encircle us,” he said.
