Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, issued a dire warning on Monday on the growing turmoil in Bangladesh, saying that diplomatic measures are not working and that "surgery" may be necessary to find a lasting solution.
Sarma stressed the direct threat to India's Northeast in an exclusive speech at News18's Rising Assam Conclave. He specifically highlighted the vulnerability of the vital Siliguri Corridor, also known as the "Chicken Neck."
"The 'Chicken Neck' is our biggest strategic concern and an unfinished agenda," said Sarma. He noted that Bangladesh is on both sides of this slender section that connects the Northeast to mainstream India.
Sarma said that in order to protect this vital link, India could eventually need to capture 20-22 kilometers of territory through diplomacy or other methods. "When medicine fails, surgery becomes necessary," he remarked, describing the worsening condition with a medical comparison.
Sarma issued a scathing indictment of the current political situation in Bangladesh, stating that Mohammed Yunus's interim government will not last.
He claimed that the government has created extremely concerning circumstances for the border states of India. He warned that the current difficulties are unprecedented, even though elections might provide a reprieve.
Thinking back on the past, the Chief Minister questioned choices made during the Indo-Pak conflict in 1971, suggesting that then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi lost a chance to permanently resolve the Chicken Neck issue.
He added that many Bangladeshi Hindus would have chosen India if given the option, blaming Congress-era Partition policy for long-term demographic difficulties.
The chief minister expressed serious worries over targeted violence against minorities in Bangladesh and the consequences that follow.
His most concerning analysis, nevertheless, concentrated on Assam's own demographic change. He referred to Assam as a "powder keg" and asserted that approximately 40% of its population is now of Bangladeshi descent, a sharp increase from 10-15% at the time of independence.
"By the 2027 census, Assam's Hindu and Muslim populations could become equal, making governance extremely complex," Sarma said.
He continued by claiming that radicalism is becoming more prevalent in post-Hasina Bangladesh, which will unavoidably lead to conflict with India.
Sarma urged preparation but patience, leaving the central government to decide how and when to handle these situations, saying, "History has its moment."
