'China, Pakistan have a strategy to invade India'

Alleging that China and Pakistan have 'a strategy to invade India', Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give an assurance to Parliament that the country is safe from a possible external aggression.

"China and Pakistan can invade India. They have a strategy to invade India. The House must be assured that India is safe," Yadav said in the Lok Sabha while participating in a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President Pratibha Patil for her address to Parliament.

Referring to developments in Ladakh, Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh, where China is allegedly threatening India's sovereignty, he said, "They are occupying one inch of territory every day. We could not regain our lost territory. They are claiming our land."

The former defence minister claimed that he was aware that China was ready to attack India.

"China is our No 1 enemy. It is time to save our country," he said.

"Their armed forces are ready. They may invade at any time. Nepal would also be occupied," Mulayam said and called for a 'Himalayan policy' to check a possible Chinese invasion.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the honour and sovereignty of the country was at stake.

Criticising the country's foreign policy, he claimed that the United States was controlling it.

"Who are our friends? We don't have any friends like the (erstwhile) USSR," said the leader.

Referring to the incidents of attack on Indian students in Australia and harassment of Indian students at the hands of authorities in the US and the United Kingdom, he said the government must take steps to protect their interest in foreign countries.