New Delhi: MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin, in a terse statement on Monday, said, “This is not a bilateral issue between India and Italy. It is a legal issue about ensuring that those who are char-ged with the death of Indian nationals are held to account for it in accordance with Indian law.” The Centre’s decision to not try the marines under the SUA also triggered a political row, with former Union home secretary R.K. Singh, who is now with the BJP, accusing the Centre of “short-circuiting its own judicial process and law.”
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad too hit out at the Centre, remarking, “The Centre has meekly succumbed under pressure from Italy. Here is a case where Indian fishermen have been killed and the government is securing relief for them... This is regrettable, we demand that government comes out with all the facts,” said Mr Prasad.
External affairs minister Salman Khurshid, hit out at R.K. Singh, who was home secretary when the marines were charged. Mr Khurshid said “The SC has to address some things again and again. Who should be responsible for it? I would imagine the person who was in the hot seat and who has to take the decision. He would be responsible.”
