Chennai, Sep 17 - India needs a government with 'steel in its spine and not jelly', former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa said Thursday as she hit out at the 'soft' Indian state on various issues, including reports of Chinese incursions into India.

Stating that India should not become a 'punching bag hit around by just about anyone who takes a fancy', the leader of opposition in Tamil Nadu and AIADMK general secretary said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's 'clean chits' to neighbouring countries was 'pathetic'.

Referring to reports of Chinese incursions into Indian territory, the unwarranted firing by the Pakistani army at Indian security personnel and the dumping of dangerous wastes inside India, Jayalalithaa said: 'What is pathetic about the present UPA coalition government at the centre is that even before the offending nations have got into denial mode, the Indian government has stretched itself to hand out clean chits to the neighbouring countries.