A diplomatic row between India and Italy is threatening to turn into full-scale confrontation with the new Indian Ambassador to Rome ordered not to take up his post and the Supreme Court ruling his counterpart in New Delhi cannot leave the country.
The row goes back more than a year when two Italian marines, guarding an Italian oil tanker off the coast of the Indian state of Kerala, fired on and killed two Indian fishermen in the mistaken belief they were pirates.
The Indian coastguard intercepted the vessel and arrested the marines. After spending four months in custody they were released on bail and allowed to return to Italy to vote in the recent elections there. Assurances were given by the Italian Ambassador, Daniele Mancini, that they would be available to answer charges when the case eventually came to court.
However, the Italian Foreign Ministry has now said the marines will not be returned to India, requesting New Delhi settle the matter through diplomatic channels.
The reaction has been fast and furious. The Indian Supreme Court ruled that as Mancini had given assurances the marines would return, he was personally liable and must not leave the country at least until the court’s next hearing on the matter later this month.
At the same time India’s new Ambassador to Rome, Basant Gupta, who was virtually boarding the plane for Europe, was ordered to delay his departure.
The Indian Foreign Ministry said it was “reviewing” its ties with Italy.
“As far as we are concerned, we want Italy to accept that the commitment given before the Supreme Court ought to be respected,” Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
“All other things are secondary”.
The ‘secondary’ matter he mentioned is the continuing controversy over allegations the Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer, AugustaWestland, paid bribes to Indian officials to secure the contract for 12 helicopters for the Indian air force.
In the latest development, the Central Bureau of Investigation named 13 people it accuses of criminal conspiracy, cheating and violation of the Prevention of Corruption Act, including retired air force chief Shashindra Pal Tyagi, three of his cousins and the brother of a former Cabinet Minister.
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