Jayalalithaa slams India's lack of diplomatic initiatives

, March 20: Voicing concern over the continued attacks on

fishermen, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said lack of strong deterrent diplomatic initiatives by India have resulted in "even more outrageous, unprovoked and lethal attacks" by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tamil fishermen.

"India cannot maintain a pusillanimous equanimity in the face of such repeated brazen and uncivilised assaults on innocent fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu, who are also citizens of India," she said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Eight fishermen of Pudukkottai district, who had ventured into the sea yesterday, were allegedly beaten up by the Lankan Navy personnel and in the second incident today six crew members of Nagapattinam district were attacked in which four fishermen suffered serious cut injuries on their hands and arms, she said.

The continuing "murderous" attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen have to be condemned in the strongest terms, she said.

It was "disappointing" that no strong deterrent diplomatic initiatives had been taken by the Centre despite repeated protests by the state government, she said, adding "this has resulted in even more outrageous, unprovoked and lethal attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tamil fishermen".

Jayalalithaa said use of swords and iron rods to attack fishermen is "an act that is medieval in its barbarism".

Noting that this was the fourth serious incident of attack or "unwarranted apprehension" by the Lankan Navy in the last one month which was "worrisome", she urged Singh to take pro-active" steps to stop these unabated brutal attacks as well as arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen.

PTI