Relations between India and Italy remained tense after New Delhi on Wednesday warned Rome of ‘consequences’ in bilateral ties over its refusal to send back two marines facing trial for killing two Indian fishermen, an action which PM Manmohan Singh described as ‘unacceptable’.
The Italian government said it was prepared to resolve the legal dispute according to international law as the marines were facing trial in a court in Rome.
Singh said if Italy does not keep its word ‘there will be consequences’. He said Italy’s actions are ‘unacceptable’ and ‘violate every rule of diplomatic discourse and call into question solemn commitments given by accredited representatives of a sovereign government to our Supreme Court’.
This was after Arun Jaitely, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, described the Italian response as ‘enemy action’ and urged the government to ‘forget diplomacy’ and respond strongly. Meanwhile, Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini said on Wednesday that he will not leave this country till he is declared persona non grata. ‘I will not leave this country till a competent authority makes me persona non grata. I am more than glad to live in this country for years to come,’ he said.
The Italian government said it was prepared to resolve the legal dispute according to international law as the marines were facing trial in a court in Rome.
Singh said if Italy does not keep its word ‘there will be consequences’. He said Italy’s actions are ‘unacceptable’ and ‘violate every rule of diplomatic discourse and call into question solemn commitments given by accredited representatives of a sovereign government to our Supreme Court’.
This was after Arun Jaitely, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, described the Italian response as ‘enemy action’ and urged the government to ‘forget diplomacy’ and respond strongly. Meanwhile, Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini said on Wednesday that he will not leave this country till he is declared persona non grata. ‘I will not leave this country till a competent authority makes me persona non grata. I am more than glad to live in this country for years to come,’ he said.