S Jaishankar’s “Cherry-Picking” Dig At Dhaka’s Yunus Over Northeast Comment
Muhammad Yunus, on his recent four-day visit to China, had said that India's Northeast was "landlocked" and had "no way to reach out to the ocean."
New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a strong counter to Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus today, days after the latter referred to India’s Northeast as “landlocked” and projected Bangladesh as the “guardian of ocean access” for the region.
Mr Jaishankar emphasized India’s strategic position in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), focusing attention on the nation’s 6,500-km coastline and geographical connections with five BIMSTEC members.
“We, after all, possess the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, of nearly 6,500 km. India borders not just five BIMSTEC members, links most of them, but also offers much of the interface between the Indian sub-continent and ASEAN. Our North-Eastern region especially is becoming a connectivity hub for the BIMSTEC, with a vast network of roads, railways, waterways, grids and pipelines,” Mr Jaishankar said in a statement.
Muhammad Yunus, who recently made a four-day visit to China, said India’s Northeast was “landlocked” and had “no way to reach out to the ocean,” and introduced Bangladesh as the main gateway for maritime access for the region.
He also urged Beijing to further develop its economic clout in Bangladesh and referred to the nation as the “only guardian of the ocean” in the region. These remarks, made during the signing of nine deals by Bangladesh with China and the country obtaining a $2.1 billion economic package, triggered a controversy, with leaders from all parties terming him irresponsible.
“We are aware that our facilitation and cooperation are a key requirement for the unhindered flow of goods, services and persons in this larger geography. In light of this geo-strategic consideration, we have invested rising energies and efforts towards the consolidation of BIMSTEC in the past decade. We also subscribe to the view that cooperation is an all-encompassing vision, and not one of cherry-picking,” Mr Jaishankar further said.
Mr Yunus’ comments incited outrage, with many in the Northeast. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the statements “offensive” and “strongly condemnable.”
“These kinds of offensive and provocative comments by Muhammad Yunus should not be taken lightly, as these represent deeper strategic calculations and age-old agendas,” Mr Sarma wrote on X.
He also cautioned that Mr Yunus’ remarks renewed debate on the “Chicken’s Neck” corridor, a narrow piece of land in West Bengal that links the Northeast to the rest of India.
“Traditionally, internal forces within India have perilously proposed to cut this vital passageway. It is thus necessary to construct stronger railway and road infrastructure both underneath and bypassing the Chicken’s Neck corridor,” Mr Sarma said.
Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh blamed Bangladesh’s interim government for treating India’s Northeast as a “strategic pawn” and cautioned Mr Yunus against making “reckless comments” on India’s sovereignty.
During his visit to China, Mr Yunus inked agreements for economic cooperation, including Bangladesh’s Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP). He also met President Xi Jinping, calling on Beijing to play a “greater role” in Bangladesh’s stability.
India has traditionally depended on access to the ports of Bangladesh, especially Chittagong, for commerce and logistics. Under the leadership of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Dhaka allowed India access to the Chittagong Port through Tripura’s Sabroom sub-division, only 75 km from the port.
