Italy marines to return to India today

Italy said that it will return two Italian marines, Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone to India by today evening. The marines will face trial in India for killing two Indian fishermen.

Italy released an official statement which says, “The Italian government requested and received a written assurances from the Indian authorities regarding the treatment of the marines and the protection of their fundamental rights,”

Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh said, “India’s tough stand as articulated by the PM and Sonia Gandhi has worked. Italy sending back its 2 marines to face trial in India.”

Italy had earlier said they will not return two marines to face trial in India. The Ambassador Daniele Mancini who had given a written undertaking to the Supreme Court that those two marines would return to India by March 22 after voting in the general election in Italy, faced flak from the bench comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice A R Dave and Justice Vikramajit Sen. Supreme Court bars on Italian envoy till April 2 to leave the country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had strongly warned Italian government and asked them to send back two marines immediately to India, otherwise there will be consequences.

“They have violated every rule of diplomatic discourse and call into question solemn commitments given by an accredited representative of a government,” Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

Sonia Gandhi also criticised Italy strongly and said Italy has ‘betrayed’ India.

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