"There will be consequences," PM warns Italy over absent marines

mangaloretoday.com/NDTV

New Delhi, March 13: The Prime Minister today warned that "there will be consequences" if Italy does not respect its commitment to the Supreme Court that two marines allowed to travel home will return to Delhi to face trial for shooting a pair of Indian fishermen.

On Monday, Italy informed India that the marines will stay there,  a decision that Dr Manmohan Singh said  "violates every rule of diplomatic discourse."  He added that Italy must return the two accused. "If they do not keep their word, there will be consequences for our relations with Italy."

 

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said India will wait for Italy’s response before deciding future action, reports the Press Trust of India.

The marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -  were permitted last month by the Supreme Court to travel home to vote in the national election. 

Sources say the Italian envoy, Daniele Mancini, could be expelled since he gave an undertaking in court that the marines would be back in Delhi by March 24.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that "fraud has been practiced" on India.  "When in prison, you do not have a right to cast your vote," he said, pointing out that the navy officers could have voted by mail instead of being sent to Italy.

Famous lawyer Harish Salve has said he will no longer represent the marines, and described Italy’s action as "a breach of faith."

Italy says that its decision is based on India ignoring its written offer for diplomatic negotiations.

The marines were guarding an Italian tanker off the Kochi coast in February last year when they say they mistook two fishermen for pirates, and shot them.

Italy claims the shooting took place in international waters, and India does not have jurisdiction.  New Delhi disagrees.