Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday strongly criticized Bangladesh’s interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus for stating that Dhaka is the “only guardian of the ocean” for landlocked Northeast India. Calling the remark “offensive” and “strongly condemnable,” Sarma argued that it highlights the region’s strategic vulnerability.
In a post on X, Sarma asserted that Yunus’s statement underscores concerns surrounding India’s ‘Chicken Neck’ corridor—a narrow strip of land connecting the Northeast to the rest of the country. He emphasized the urgent need to strengthen transport infrastructure to reduce dependence on this corridor.
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. This remark underscores the…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 1, 2025
“Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested severing this critical passageway to physically isolate the Northeast from the mainland. 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,” Sarma stated.
His remarks also referenced past incidents, including police allegations against former JNU student Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested for sedition after purportedly advocating for the blockade of the Chicken Neck corridor during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
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