PM writes to CM, ensures steps to bring back marines
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 20 : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today received a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ensuring all diplomatic and legal options to bring back Italian marines to India.
In his letter, the Prime Minister said he shares the sense of national outrage over the communication from Italian government that the marines will not return to India.
It was on February 22 that the Supreme Court had permitted the marines to leave India for a period of four weeks. Such a decision was taken on the basis of an undertaking given by the Italian Ambassador who assumed full responsibility for the secure return of the two marines to India before the expiry of the period permitted by the Supreme Court.
He also made it clear that the stand of Italy in this regard is not acceptable to India and added that they have violated all rules of diplomatic discourse and have cast a shadow on the relationship between the two countries.
The SC has issued notice to the Italian Ambassador and has sought a reply from him, the Prime Minister said.