Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a sharp warning to Bangladesh on Tuesday, stating that India would not stay silent and would "teach a lesson" if politicians across the border continued making statements about India's northeastern region.
Sarma's Stern Warning to Dhaka
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader's comments came a day after Hasnat Abdullah, a key figure in Bangladesh's newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), suggested Dhaka should "isolate" India's northeastern states and back separatist elements there. Abdullah claimed this would be a response if New Delhi attempted to "destabilise" Bangladesh.
"For the last one year, statements have been coming repeatedly from that country (Bangladesh) that the states of northeast India should be separated and made a part of Bangladesh," Sarma told reporters, as per a PTI report. He emphasised India's stature, calling it a "very big country, a nuclear nation and the world’s fourth-largest economy." He questioned, "How can Bangladesh even think about it?"
The Assam CM argued that this mindset should not be encouraged. "We should teach them a lesson that if they continue to behave in this way, we will not remain silent," he asserted.
Roots of the Controversial Comments
Hasnat Abdullah, a senior leader in the student-led protests that ousted the Sheikh Hasina government in August last year, made his contentious remarks on Monday. He described India's northeastern states as geographically "vulnerable," noting their dependence on the narrow Siliguri Corridor or "Chicken’s Neck" for connectivity with mainland India.
The political landscape in Bangladesh has shifted dramatically since Hasina's fall. The former prime minister, who has been living in Delhi since fleeing Dhaka, was found guilty and sentenced to death last month by an International Crimes Tribunal for "crimes against humanity." Hasina has dismissed the verdict as "politically motivated."
Dhaka has repeatedly asked for Hasina's extradition, a request that New Delhi has stated is "being examined." This issue has contributed to relations between the two neighbours hitting an all-time low.
Broader Pattern of Remarks
This is not an isolated incident. The caretaker administration in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has also commented on India's northeastern region on multiple occasions. The region, often referred to as the "Seven Sisters" due to its seven constituent states, has become a recurring topic in cross-border discourse.
Chief Minister Sarma's forceful response underscores the growing diplomatic sensitivity surrounding the issue. It highlights New Delhi's firm stance against any external commentary perceived as challenging India's territorial integrity, especially concerning the strategically vital northeastern states.
