Jayalalithaa taunts India's 'meek' approach

Tamil Nadu Chief Minsiter J. Jayalalithaa accused the Indian government of adopting a "meek and passive approach" in dealing with the repeated attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday, she said: "The Sri Lankan Navy appears emboldened to act in a high-handed and repressive manner largely because of the government of India's meek and passive approach to this serious issue."

The text of her letter was released to the media Friday.

Jayalalithaa said despite her repeated representations to the prime minister "on this critical livelihood issue of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu, the harassment and arrest of these fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy continues unquestioned and unabated".

She said the Sri Lankan Navy unlawfully abducted 30 Indian fishermen and seized seven fishing boats Nov 5.

Fifty-six Indian fishermen were in Sri Lankan jails and 35 fishing boats were with Sri Lankan authorities.

Jayalalithaa urged the prime minister to intervene in order to secure the release of all the Indian fishermen and their fishing boats.

Tamil Nadu is separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow strip of sea. Clashes between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen as well as between Indian fishermen and the Sri Lankan security forces are common.