She said India had always given the impression of being a soft state. 'Successive Indian governments have allowed themselves to be bullied by practically all our neighbours -- China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even the tiny Sri Lanka.'

Referring to the influx of refugees, she said the demography of most border states of the northeast had been so drastically altered that in many of them outsiders outnumbered locals, putting tremendous strain on local resources.

'Border fencing projects have been accorded very low priority. Border patrolling is non-existent and our borders have earned the reputation of being the most porous in the world.'