PM calls Italy's decision 'unacceptable'
New Delhi, Mar 12 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said Italy's decision to not to send its two marines, who were accused of shooting to death two Indian fishermen in Kerala last year, to India was 'unacceptable'.
According to reports, the Prime Minister told the Left MPs that he will ask External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to take up the matter with Italy.
Meanwhile, the Italian marines said they were 'happy' to remain in the Italy.
The Supreme Court on Feb 22 had allowed the two Italian marines- Salvatore Latorre and Massimiliano Girone-to travel to Italy to cast their votes in the country's elections.
Accusing Indian authorities of violating international rights by detaining the marines, Italy's Foreign Ministry said it was "open" to let an international arbitrator to assess the case.
They said India had not responded to Italian requests to seek a diplomatic solution to the case and there was now a "dispute" between the two countries over the terms of the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea.
On Feb 15, 2012, the security officials of Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen mistaking them as pirates in the high seas off Ambalapuzha in Kerala. They were subsequently arrested.