New Delhi, March 12: A day after Italy refused to send back two marines charged with killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast, India said Tuesday Italy did not have a choice in the matter. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India will do “whatever needs to be done” to ensure the marines returned.
Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said after meeting Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini at South Block: “Italy is obliged to ensure that the marines return to India in the time frame given by the Supreme Court.”
The Italian envoy refused to speak to the media.
The Supreme Court in February allowed the marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - to fly to Italy to vote in the Feb 24-25 national election.
The apex court was given an undertaking that the marines will return in four weeks to face legal proceedings in India.
The Italian embassy Monday informed New Delhi that the marines would not return to India.
The marines on board Italian ship Enrica Lexie allegedly shot dead the two fishermen in February last year, mistaking them for pirates.
The Indian government said “that it does not agree with the position conveyed by the Italian government on the return of the Marines to India.
