Minister for the Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, gave a scathing response to Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s inflammatory statements regarding the Northeast. Speaking at the Rising Bharat Summit, Scindia positioned the region not as landlocked or circumscribed—but as the “engine of the train that powers India.” With trade connections from Tripura to Germany and Nagaland to Dubai, the minister pointed to the Northeast’s speedy makeover. His defense of growth in Northeast India also had a deeper message: India is not letting anyone define the regional narrative, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Bangladesh’s ‘Ocean Guardian’ Remark Sparks Tension
In Beijing, Muhammad Yunus had termed Bangladesh as the “sole guardian of the ocean” for India’s Seven Sister landlocked states. He challenged China to turn Bangladesh into an economic hub that could feed into Chinese production and international exports. The going-viral statement roused political vitriol in India.
Scindia didn’t mince words. “Some nations might not be landlocked, but they don’t possess the muscle of India’s Ashtalakshmi,” he told, referring to the eight states in the northeast. He emphasized that the states are all increasing at almost 12%—way above national averages. This speed, he asserted, is what makes the region the fulcrum of India’s economic boom.
Northeast as India’s Global Gateway
Growth figures only, Scindia highlighted the way Northeast India is intricately linked to international trade. He took examples—Tripura pineapples soaring to Germany and Nagaland chillies reaching Dubai—to make the case that the region is already influencing international markets. “Our ability to influence the Global North as well as South is phenomenal,” he added.
He also reminded the audience that the Northeast has more than 6,000 km of international borders. “Its connectivity with the Global South is unparalleled,” he stated. “We need to look outward—not only at the Global North, but at the South too.”
With the Indo-Pacific emerging as the new theater of geopolitical competition, Scindia’s message was unambiguous: Northeast India growth is not only local development—it’s a strategic response to any narrative that excludes India’s eastern border.