 "PC Chacko")
Following the Italian Government's refusal to hand over two of their marines accused of murdering Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast almost four years ago, the Congress on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action in the case and said that Rome should not go back on its commitment given to New Delhi.
"The Kerala Chief Minister has asked the Prime Minister to take appropriate action. Two Italian marines who are accused in this case, one was allowed to leave the country on compassionate grounds, he had a stroke and the Italian Government requested the Indian Government to take him to Italy for treatment," Congress leader P C Chacko said.
"They had also given an assurance that he will be brought back to India after the treatment. A government cannot go back on a commitment given. The law of the land must prevail, they have committed offence in India and they should be tried here. I hope the Centre will take appropriate action," he added.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala echoed similar views and said that Prime Minister Modi should take up the matter with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi.
"Will Modiji now take action and take up the issue diplomatically with his counterpart in Italy (to ensure that killer of Indian fishermen is brought to justice)?" he said.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has urged Prime Minister Modi to interfere and bring the culprits back to the country.
India had granted Massimiliano Latorre, who suffered a stroke while in New Delhi in 2014, a period of leave in Italy for medical treatment, but he was supposed to return by Friday.
The two men say they accidentally killed two fishermen when they mistook a fishing boat for a pirate ship and fired warning shots while protecting an Italian oil tanker in 2012.
In a bid to tone down the diplomatic row, Italy reversed an initial decision in 2013 not to send the marines back to India to stand trial after a home visit.
