Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warns Italy

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

Dr. Singh said India is agitated over Italy’s “unacceptable” action and said his government is serous to bring back the two naval guards to the country.

“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 on Wednesday.

“Our government has insisted that the Italian authorities respect the undertakings they have given to the Hon’ble Supreme Court and return the two accused persons to stand trial in India. If they do not keep their word there will be consequences for our relations with Italy,” he said.

Singh said India is upset with Italy’s action and bilateral ties between two countries will suffer.

“This cannot, by any standards, be in the interests of any bilateral relationship that has to function on the basis of trust.”

Two Italian naval officers – Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, have been charged with killing two Kerala fishermen last year, were granted four weeks bail by Supreme Court to go back to Italy to cast their votes in general elections. Italian foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday saying they will not send back their naval guards to India.

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