Mulayam flays 'cowardly' UPA over Chinese incursion

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Monday accused the UPA government of being "weak and cowardly" over the reported incursion of Chinese troops in Ladakh.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the former defence minister warned that China "is the biggest enemy" of India and that "Pakistan is no threat to India".

He alleged that the Chinese incursion was aimed at annexing Indian territory.

"I have been raising this issue for the past eight years. I had warned that that there will be a repeat of 1962. I even went and met the prime minister, yet there was no response. Now (external affairs minister) Salman Khurshid is going to China. What for? Beg before them?" an angry Mulayam Singh asked.

Khurshid is scheduled to visit Beijing early next month.

Besides Mulayam Singh, several members voiced concern on the stand-off that continues with China at the border.

"I would request and I would urge upon the government that adequate steps be taken to drive out the Chinese forces from the Indian territory and all attempts should be made to demarcate the Line of Actual Control," demanded Biju Janata Dal's Bhartruhari Mahtab.

Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay urged the speaker to allot time for a full debate on the issue.

"The PM should come and make a statement in the house," he said.

On April 15, a Chinese platoon set up camp 19 km inside Indian territory in Depsang Valley in Ladakh.

India has tried through meetings with local military commanders and through diplomatic channels to get China to vacate the spot. China insists that it has not intruded into Indian territory.