Manmohan Singh was then the Prime Minister of India and Shivshankar Menon was the National Security Adviser. I was going to China with the Prime Minister. Shivshankar Menon was briefing reporters on the visit on the PM’s plane. Discussions on various issues, such as how China is building roads on the Myanmar border, providing various financial assistance — all came up in the discussion.
I well remember Shivshankar Menon saying in reply that in a large democratic country like India there are some difficulties in making such a decision. Because the construction of roads on the border of Myanmar, and the construction of roads in a huge rural area of the whole country কোন which of these two is the priority, is debated in the Cabinet of India. In a democratic state, I will first serve the people of my country. I can’t build enough roads in my villages. Why should I go ahead and build roads in the neighboring state? The issue was raised in the cabinet. The question of financial allocation comes up when the National Security Adviser raises the need for road construction in a state like Myanmar or another neighboring country in the cabinet meeting. That is, there is a debate about how much money will be spent on the neighboring state and how much will be spent on village roads in the budget allocation. As a result, even if security advisers are sought, they do not always become effective in India, as opposed to the Department of Works and the Department of Rural Development.
China is a state where the rule of communist dictatorship, not democracy, is adhered to. The decisions of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party are implemented by the government or the state. And since there is no political scope for this democratic debate, it becomes much easier for them to implement it. Today, after so many years, I am reminded of this controversy, not only because of Myanmar, but also among other neighboring countries, but China is pushing for roads. Now they want to get support from Bangladesh too. Although Pakistan agreed, Bangladesh has not yet agreed. In such a scenario, the situation in Myanmar has become increasingly murky.
Recently, militants attacked Assam Rifles in the border area of Manipur. The attack was so severe that Indian Army Colonel Biplob Tripathi was killed along with his wife and son. In addition, four other soldiers were killed. An investigation by the Union Home Ministry has revealed that the militants who carried out the attack have fled to Myanmar. They also brought training for militant activity from Myanmar. Today, it is imperative to suppress the terror of several militant bases in the jungles of Myanmar, which are engaged in anti-India activities. For this reason, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Sringla recently visited Myanmar. While there, he discussed the issue with Myanmar’s military regime and raised the question of why these militants would be active in anti-India activities. Why Myanmar will not take action against them?
I would like to remind the readers and friends that there was a time when ULFA militants were also trained in Bangladesh. At that time they were hiding in different places. These militants have been suppressed since Sheikh Hasina came to power. And the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina announced that the soil of Bangladesh will not be allowed to be used in anti-India activities. The ULFA militants who had entered Bangladesh after being chased from Bhutan were also expelled from there. Unfortunately, those ULFA militants also took refuge in Myanmar bases and set up militant bases in Myanmar. However, it has been possible to suppress many ULFA militants and the Bangladesh government has provided immense assistance in this regard. The Bangladesh government has sent back some ULFA militants. Apart from that extradition, those who are still there are believed to be hiding in the jungles of Myanmar. The militant group may be different, but Sringla has taken an active part in the allegations that anti-India militants have come from Myanmar, where he has met with the country’s military rulers.
Harsh Vardhan Sringla visited Bangladesh last August. And that was his first foreign tour. Then, in the midst of the Corona disaster, Sringla went to Myanmar in October with Army Chief Manoj Mukund. His main objective was to put pressure on Myanmar’s Estate Administrative Council to prevent such militant acts from taking place in Myanmar. This time too, he went to Myanmar and held meetings with the top leaders of Suu Kyi’s party, but the junta government did not allow Sringla to meet with Suu Kyi. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has also expressed displeasure in this regard. Suu Kyi is a prisoner. Imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi That’s why Schringler’s visit is so significant and so important.
Now let’s talk about Bangladesh and Myanmar. Relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar are very sensitive. What is the distance from Chittagong to Myanmar by sea? There was a time when people used to visit Chittagong and from there they would also visit Myanmar. That was the relevance of tourism there. Bangladesh’s relations with Myanmar have deteriorated over the Rohingya issue. The Myanmar government is trying to send the Rohingyas back to Bangladesh, alleging that they originated from Bangladesh.
