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An ebullient External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Friday credited the “careful handling” of diplomatic initiatives by his ministry, despite “enormous pressure”, for the return of the two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen, as well as the resolution on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The two Italian marines returned here around 5.30 pm. For Khurshid, whose ministry had faced flak for its handling of the case (Italy had earlier said the two marines wouldn’t return to India to face trial), this was a shot in the arm.
On Tuesday, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had pulled out of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre, as it was miffed with the government for not taking a strong stand against alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. Khurshid on Friday described the UNHRC resolution as a victory of “foreign policy based on principles”.
On the successes resulting from possible deals struck by the Centre, Khurshid said, “There is no deal in Geneva, no deal in Colombo, no deal in Rome and no deal in New Delhi…We kept the channels of communication open despite political and public pressure.”
Khurshid “clarified” the two Italian marines would not be awarded the death penalty, as the offence didn’t amount to the ‘rarest of rare’ cases, adding their trial would be held in a court specially constituted by the Centre. He termed the ensuing trial “unusual”, as “it would possibly be the first time a special court would be set by the Centre for a trial, owing to the special nature of the offence”.
On the past few weeks Khurshid said, “We were at the forefront. We had to take the flak. We had to do the delivery, if at all the delivery was possible. And, that is the attitude with which we went into it. That is the attitude I still have.”
After the Italian government informed India of its decision to send the marines to India on Friday, Khurshid made a statement before both Houses of Parliament. Rejecting the Opposition’s claim that the pressure exerted by them had yielded results, Khurshid asserted it was the stern message by the UPA’s senior leadership (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi) and the Supreme Court that had led to a change in Italy’s stand.
Khurshid said successful diplomacy by his ministry had led to India seeking an independent and credible investigation against alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. This was managed “without irretrievably damaging our bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, a relationship which is of great value,” he said.
He added the government had managed to balance domestic politics and foreign policy, keeping “enlightened national interests” in mind.
India, however, didn’t make any amendment to the US-sponsored resolution, as demanded by the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
