‘Western neighbour behind influx of Bangladeshis into N-E’

Urging the need to identify the problems in the demographic changes in the North Eastern part of the country, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday cited reasons for illegal migration from Bangladesh — lack of space mainly in monsoon in Bangladesh and encouragement from India's Western neighbour to fuel illegal influx of settlers.

 In his concluding remarks while addressing a seminar on "North East Region of India —Bridging gaps and Securing Borders"— the Army Chief said, "Migration from Bangladesh is due to two reasons. First, they are running out of space as large areas get flooded during monsoon and they have constricted area for its population to stay. And second planned immigration is taking place because of our Western neighbour. They will always try and ensure that this area is taken over. It is playing the proxy dimension of warfare."

At the time when two critical issues which are emerging pertaining to North East's Act East Policy mainly, Border Management with Bangladesh and Myanmar and security region which hinges to great deal on the vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor  Gen Rawat said, "It is a vulnerability but it can be well taken care of, adding , "The issue first is identifying the problems and then adopting a step by step approach to solve them.'' He also added that the Government is looking at the North East in correct perspective and the time is not far when speedy development would take place in all areas.

 Shiv Shankar Menon, former NSA and Foreign Secretary also shared various aspects of North - Eastern sector and mentioned about the 73 days long standoff in Doklam with China. Lauding the Indian Government's tough stand on Doklam episode, Menon said that the way China acted in Doklam was an attempt to show that India could not be relied to defend Bhutan.  

"One reason behind Doklam last year was not because they had a clear military option or superiority but they had the political goal of splitting us from Bhutanese," adding, " To show the Bhutanese that India could not defend their security and also to arouse Bhutanese opinion. I am glad we chose to react the way we did,''Menon said.

It is important to mention here about Doklam as it lies strategically at the tri-junction of India, Bhutan and China.

Naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said that despite the cartographic difference with China, peace and tranquility has been maintained along the LAC for several decades. "However, frequent instance of transgression by the People Liberation Army (PLA) across the LAC and the recent standoff at Doklam are indication of increasing brazenness of China, as it makes rapid progress both economically and militarily. The recent developments have also underscored the vulnerability of Siliguri Corridor,".