BJP slams Govt on Italian marines issue
New Delhi, Mar 12 : The BJP today said there was a ''diplomatic collusion'' between India and Italy on the Italian marines issue.
Two Italian marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- facing trial in India for allegedly killing two fishermen and recently granted permission by the Supreme Court to go home to vote in election, will not return to India, the Italian government has said.
''This is a diplomatic collusion. It is a complete case of contempt of court. Italy is a democratic country. It is not a banana republic. That country gave an affidavit but now they are not returning them,'' BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.
''Why the Indian laws so weak whenever there is an accused from Italy,'' he asked.
The two Italian marines have been charged with killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February last year.
They were permitted by the Supreme Court to go to Italy for four weeks for voting in last month's election.
Last time they were allowed to go home for the Christmas holidays after which they returned back to India.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the matter would be taken up with Italy.