THE West Bengal Government’s move reported widely in media but not officially confirmed about the transfer of 120 acres of land in the core part of the strategically critical Siliguri Corridor or Chicken’s Neck to the Central Government needs to be understood realistically. It is true that the extremely narrow Siliguri Corridor needs to be protected at all costs since it is the only link of the country with its North-Eastern States. Because of its proximity with the international border, this corridor, also known as Chicken’s Neck, is also considered as vulnerable to foreign military machinations. The reason behind the West Bengal Government’s move to hand over 120 acres of core land in the Siliguri Corridor is to spruce up the strategic security of the narrow passage. It will be through this area that strategic movements could be conducted. Knowing the purpose behind the transfer of the said area to the Centre, the move is welcome.

 

The biggest security threat comes from China whose forces are positioned around the Siliguri Corridor at dangerously close locations. In 2017, during the 73-day stand-off between the Indian and Chinese forces at the Doka La tri-junction between India, Bhutan and Tibet under Chinese possession, India realised the criticality of the Siliguri Corridor all the more. India did not yield even an inch of land to the Chinese forces knowing fully well that such a slip would have given the Chinese an upper hand. When the Centre gets a direct control of the 120 acres of core area in the Siliguri Corridor, strategic movements would be swifter and very purposeful. Over the past few years, the Central Government has made the North-Eastern States strategically much stronger and better-equipped to handle any military exigencies. So, it may never be easy for any enemy to control the Siliguri Corridor and cause a terrible disruption in India. Despite this preparedness of the past few years, despite a complete political awareness on the part of the Government about what can happen in Siliguri Corridor, India’s strategic and security apparatus does not want to take any chances. Hence the anxieties that need to be addressed on an urgent basis. In the past few years, India’s military deployment in the forward areas has been exemplary.

 

This was proved beyond doubt during the clashes with the Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley and nearby border areas. The Indian forces engaged the Chinese forces in a no nonsense eye-ball to eye-ball confrontation and outmatched the Chinese aggressors in the Galwan Valley clashes. India’s counter action was so effective that the Chinese leadership felt frustrated. India’s strong stance also later led to disengagement in some border areas. The same preparedness is being practised by India even in the Siliguri Corridor, as the sources in the Government insist. At no cost will the Chinese be allowed to tear through the Siliguri Corridor since the Indian forces are on an eternal alert and their deployment, too, is heavy to very heavy. No enemy would find it easy to crack India’s defence lines in Siliguri Corridor. In hindsight, it must be said that the Indian authorities should have asked for adequate land from Bangladesh at the time of its formation in 1971-72.

 

In those critical moments, such a move stood great chances of success. In that case, an expanded Siliguri Corridor would have become a better security proposition -- away from the current anxieties. With the advent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in West Bengal, the process of handing over of appropriate land to the Central Government has gained a sudden momentum. Now, various security and strategic concerns would get addressed more quickly and easily. The Trinamool Congress Government was opposed to the hand over of land to the Centre for border-fencing and also in Siliguri Corridor. That obstacle now stands removed. Things would move swiftly in national interest and a major strategic concern would get addressed appropriately by the country.