Guwahati: Immediately after India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed the media about the proposed stopping of fire on the Pakistan border on May 10, the irresponsible Congress party started hitting PM Modi through their social media handles. Posting late PM Indira Gandhi and 1971 war picture, Congress party wrote in its X handle, “it is tough to be Indira Gandhi”. Without going into the details of the immense success that India achieved through ‘Operation Sindoor’,the Congress party simply jumped into politicising the halt of the operation.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the claims by Congress party as void as the party itself. In a post in his X handle the Assam cm termed the 1971 war as a diplomatic folly and historic opportunity lost. He wrote… India’s 1971 military victory was decisive and historic. It broke Pakistan in two and gave birth to Bangladesh. But while our soldiers delivered a stunning battlefield success, India’s political leadership failed to secure lasting strategic gains. The creation of Bangladesh is often hailed as a diplomatic triumph — but history tells a different story.
Secular Promise, Islamic Reality: India supported a secular Bangladesh. Yet by 1988, Islam was declared the state religion. Today, political Islam thrives in Dhaka, undermining the very values India fought to protect.
Persecution of Hindus: Hindus, once 20 per cent of Bangladesh’s population, have dwindled to under 8 per cent. Systematic discrimination and violence continue — a shameful reality that India has largely ignored.
The Chicken’s Neck Left Exposed: Despite military dominance, India failed to resolve the vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor. A secure land corridor through northern Bangladesh could have integrated the Northeast — but no such arrangement was ever pursued.
Migrant Crisis Ignored: No agreement mandated the return of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. As a result, Assam, Bengal, and the Northeast face unchecked demographic change, sparking social unrest and political instability.
No Access to Chittagong Port: India did not secure access to the strategic Chittagong Port. Five decades later, the Northeast remains landlocked — despite having birthed a nation through blood and sacrifice.
Insurgents Found Refuge: For decades, Bangladesh served as a base for anti-India insurgents Groups exploited the vacuum India failed to close in 1971.
A Victory Undone by Silence: India’s military triumph in 1971 was not matched by strategic foresight. What could have been a new regional order was reduced to a one-sided act of generosity.
Had Indira Gandhi been alive today, the nation would have questioned her for mishandling the decisive victory won by our armed forces. The creation of Bangladesh was not a bargain — it was a historic opportunity lost.
