Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday claimed that India's "meek and pusillanimous" response to the repeated attacks on its fishermen has emboldened Sri Lankan Navy to carry out more such attacks. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, copies of which were released to the media here, she said: "The meek and pusillanimous response of the government of India to these repeated attacks have emboldened the Sri Lankan Navy to mount more and more unprovoked attacks on our fishermen."

Jayalalithaa was referring to the apprehension of 22 Indian fishermen and their five boats from Rameswaram by the Sri Lankan Navy on Monday. She said the fishermen have been taken to Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka for further investigations. In another incident Monday, 15 Indian fishermen in four boats were apprehend by the Lankan Navy. Complaining that none of her letters to the prime minister "on this subject have evoked a substantive response", Jayalalithaa accused the central government of "treating the vexatious issue in a casual manner as it is a backyard squabble to be sorted out by the fishermen associations of both the countries". Citing the protest lodged by India after summoning the deputy high commissioner of Pakistan when fishermen from Gujarat were attacked, she alleged the central government has a dismissive attitude towards Tamil Nadu fishermen.