them as pirates and also the government has warned its people in India to beware as the tensions grow in the Italy.
The
decision by Rome has created an uproar in the among the opposition leaders and
have called for the charging of the Italian high commissioner, Daniele Mancini with
charges of contempt as he had promised that the two marines would return back
to India for further trials after voting in the last month’s general election
and spending the Easter holidays with their families. Daneil Mancini had filed
an affidavit in the above respect with the supreme court of India promising
their return back.
Indian premier Dr. Manmohan Singh warned of
the consequences if Italy failed to produce the men before the given date in
India for trials.
The two marines named Massimiliano Latorre and
Salvatore Girone were booked with charges of murder for shooting the two Indian
fishermen but Rome claims that the two marines shot them in the international
waters in line of protection of the Italian oil tankers when the two fishermen
came too close to the vessel’
Italy believes that their men should be tried
in their own court as the incident does not lie under the Indian jurisdiction,
but India has been maintaining its ground that Italy is trying to breach
diplomatic norms by moving away from their word.
All of this has erupted amidst the previously
growing tensions between the two nations over the Augusta Westland helicopter
deals in which the Finmeccanica, one of italy’s biggest companies has been
alleged of bribing the relatives of the former Indian Air Force chief to
acquire the deal.
The Italian officials seem to be embracing
themselves against the backlash against its citizens in India and particularly
in Kerala where the fishermen belonged and hence have been seen to warn its
people in India.
Italian foreign minister made a statement to its people saying, "maintain
an alert and cautious attitude and to stay away from any public meetings.”
