S. Jaishankar on Muhammad Yunus: Mohammad Yunus, the leader of the interim government of Bangladesh, recently made a statement about India and North Eastern states after meeting Xi Jinping in China, which increased the controversy. He described seven Indian states of the Northeast as land locked (surrounded by land) and on this basis, Bangladesh was declared the only patron of the region as the Indiansagar.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar replied
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lashed out at Mohammad Yunus without naming BIMSTEC (BIMSTEC) conference in Thailand. He said that India understands its responsibility well for multi-regional technical and economic cooperation. He also reminded that India has the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, which is about 6,500 km in length.
Jaishankar further said that the northeastern region of India is becoming a connectivity hub for BIMSTEC. A large network of roads, railways, waterways, electricity grids and pipelines is being prepared here. He also informed that after the completion of the trilateral highway, the northeastern region of India will be directly connected to the Pacific Ocean, which will be a big change.
India fully committed- S Jaishankar
He said that India is fully committed to make trade, travel and communication easier in this entire region. In the last few years, India has made constant efforts to strengthen BIMSTEC and this process will continue even further.
Mohammad Yunus’s statement in Northeast India
The recent statement of Mohammad Yunus of Bangladesh has increased resentment in Northeast India. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described his statement as “inflammatory” and “condemnable”. He wrote on X, “Mohammad Yunus’s statement should not be taken lightly, as it points to deep strategic thinking and long -standing plans.”
He also warned that the discussion about the “Chicken Neck Corridor” has started again with Yunus’s statement. It is a narrow area in West Bengal, which connects Northeast India to the rest of the country. He said that there have been security concerns about this area before and such statements can make the atmosphere more sensitive.
India’s defense expert also responded
Earlier, India’s defense expert also strongly criticized it for Mohammad Yunus’s landlocked statement. India’s Defense Expert Dhruv Coach said on Monday (March 31, 2025) that he is not increasing business with India and it is our matter of connectivity, this is our case, this government will see what to do. He said that the Kaladan river project will be completed soon and we do not need Bangladesh.
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