PM Modi's strong message for Yunus amid northeast remark row: 'Rhetoric best avoided'

Last week, PM Modi wrote a letter to Yunus on the occasion of Bangladesh's National Day

During a meeting with the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, in Bangkok on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined India's concerns over the safety and security of minorities, including Hindus in the neighbouring country.

The PM also  requested  Dhaka to avoid "rhetoric that vitiates the environment". Recently,  Yunus' remarks on northeast  evoked strong reactions from India.

“PM Modi reiterated India's support for democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. He underlined Prof. Yunus India's desire to forge a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh. The PM also urged that any rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided,” foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.

#WATCH | Bangkok | On PM Modi's meeting with Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in Thailand, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "PM Modi reiterated India's support for democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. He underlined Prof. Yunus India's pic.twitter.com/7kZiIMIZvP

ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2025

According to Misri, the PM said on the border strict enforcement of the law and prevention of illegal border crossing are necessary to maintain border security and security.  "The PM also underlines India's concerns over the safety and security of minorities, including Hindus in Bangladesh,” said Misri.

He also said the Prime Minister also pressed for a thorough investigation into all cases of atrocities.

An Indian rights group  recently asked the United Nations to help stop Yunus from emboldening the religious fundamentalists in his country by denying attacks on the minorities in his country.

The New Delhi-based Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) alleged that Yunus had been trivialising the acts of violence against the Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians in Bangladesh by describing them as outcomes of personal disputes, criminal acts, or accidents.

The India-Bangladesh ties  have been frosty since Yunus took charge of Bangladesh in August 2024.  India's old ally Sheikh Hasina was toppled as prime minister by a student-led uprising and fled by helicopter to India.

During his recent visit to China, Yunus said that Bangladesh remains the "only guardian" of the ocean as the seven northeastern states of India are "landlocked". “Seven states of eastern India — the seven sisters — they are landlocked. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardian of the ocean,” Yunus said.

In response, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar said “cooperation is an integrated outlook, not one subject to cherry-picking”.

Addressing the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, Jaishankar said, “Our Northeast region in particular is emerging as a connectivity hub for the BIMSTEC, with a myriad network of roads, railways, waterways, grids and pipelines. The completion of the Trilateral Highway will connect India’s Northeast all the way to the Pacific Ocean, a veritable game-changer.”