chickens neck corridor

West Bengal's new BJP government is enacting swift policy changes, replacing TMC schemes with central programs like Ayushman Bharat and Annapurna Yojna. Mandatory 'Vande Mataram' in schools, revised OBC reservations, and increased age limits for government jobs are among the key decisions. The administration is also scrutinizing caste certificates and initiating corruption probes.

In a recent statement, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed optimism about the strategic alignment of all five border states with the Central government. He highlighted that with Home Minister Amit Shah at the helm, there’s potential for a comprehensive strategy to safeguard India's eastern and northeastern borders, particularly the vital Siliguri corridor.

This victory gives BJP more than a new state. It gives Modi an eastern anchor to complement his dominance across the Hindi heartland and the West.

Prime Minister Modi alleged a 'tukde-tukde gang' threatened to sever the Siliguri Corridor, accusing the TMC of supporting them. He criticized the TMC's appeasement politics, claiming it caused suffering and stalled development, including vital infrastructure projects. Modi promised a special package for North Bengal and urged voters to support the BJP for security and jobs.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the INDI Alliance over attempts to seek bail for those who raised slogans about cutting the "chicken neck corridor," saying their efforts failed as the Supreme Court rejected the bail pleas and that such intentions against India would never succeed.

Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Budget contains a proposal to expand railway link between the region and the rest of the country to four tracks, fulfilling a long-felt need. Northeast Frontier Railway GM Chetan Shrivastava said the underground stretch would run from Tin Mile Haat to Rangapani stations within Bengal. During the 2017 Doklam stand-off, military planners had talked about the vulnerability of the Siliguri stretch of the corridor.

Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, issued a strong warning to Bangladesh regarding the Siliguri corridor, also known as the 'Chicken's Neck.' He dismissed claims of a 'Greater Bangladesh' map including Indian territories and asserted India's military strength, referencing 'Operation Sindoor.' Sarma downplayed Bangladesh's significance, stating it cannot be compared to India's power and influence.

The vulnerability of the strategic Siliguri Corridor was acutely felt during the 2017 Doklam standoff with Chinese troops near the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China even though tensions later subsided. This is what India will do now to secure the narrow land strip linking seven northeastern states with the mainland

India is set to construct underground railway tracks along the crucial Siliguri corridor, dubbed the "chicken's neck," to bolster connectivity to the Northeast. This strategic move addresses concerns over regional vulnerability and potential disruptions, aiming to ensure an uninterrupted lifeline for vital supplies and troop movement amidst heightened geopolitical rhetoric.

India plans to develop an alternative railway network through Bangladesh, leveraging the India-Bangladesh Trade Agreement of 1980. The initiative aims to enhance trade and tourism activities with Bangladesh, address security concerns highlighted during the 2017 Doklam standoff, and feature 14 new routes spanning 861km, involving gauge conversion and construction of new tracks.

Former Manipur CM N Biren Singh condemns remarks by Bangladesh's interim chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of using Northeast India as a strategic pawn for geopolitical gains, calling such statements 'unwise' and cautioning against potential consequences. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Debbarma also criticize Yunus' comments.