The Congress party on Monday sharply criticized the Centre’s foreign policy, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent outreach to Bangladesh, and condemned remarks made by Mohammad Yunus, a prominent figure from Bangladesh. Yunus, who recently visited Beijing, referred to Bangladesh as the “guardian of the ocean” for Northeast India, sparking concerns about the region’s security and sovereignty.
In a social media video that surfaced on Monday, Yunus, while addressing China’s economic influence in his country, stated, “The seven states of India, the eastern part of India, are called the seven sisters. They are a landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean.” This statement was met with sharp criticism from Congress leaders, who saw it as an affront to India’s territorial integrity.
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed alarm, accusing the Bangladesh government of jeopardizing the safety of India’s Northeast. “The Bangladesh government's approach is very dangerous for the safety of our Northeast. The government is not watching Manipur, and China has established a village in Arunachal Pradesh. Our foreign policy is in such a deplorable state that the country, for whose creation we played a major role, is now busy trying to surround us,” Khera said. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also weighed in, reminding Prime Minister Modi of his recent letter to Bangladesh, emphasizing the "strong ties" between the two nations. Gogoi condemned Yunus’ remarks, stating that they undermined India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “After that Muhammad Yunus' recent remarks about Northeast India and China are deeply concerning and unacceptable,” Gogoi added.
The BJP leaders from the Northeast also joined the chorus of criticism, calling Yunus’ statement offensive. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to X (formerly Twitter), condemning Yunus’ comment. "The statement made by Md Younis of Bangladesh, the 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," Sarma posted.
He further noted that such remarks reflected deeper strategic considerations and long-term agendas, emphasizing the need for vigilance in light of these provocative statements.
This controversy comes at a time when relations between India and Bangladesh are being closely monitored, with India continuing to express concerns about foreign influence in the region. The comments by Yunus have added fuel to the debate about the security of India’s northeastern border areas.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)