Hope Manmohan Singh will walk the talk on marines issue: BJP

The BJP said there is a history behind the "special indulgence" to the two Italian marines and hoped that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will walk the talk after taking a tough stand on the issue. India awaits Italy's response | Kerala CM meets PM

The BJP on Wednesday said there is a history behind the "special indulgence" to the two Italian marines and hoped that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will walk the talk after taking a tough stand on the issue.

The main Opposition charged that the marines while undergoing trial for killing two Indian fishermen were allowed to go home for Christmas and then again for casting their vote though there is a provision for postal ballot in Italy.

Deputy leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad said there are 2,020 foreign convicts in jails across India and 3,601 foreigners undergoing trials but allowing any of them to go home for festivals is unheard of.

"Why this special indulgence to Italian marines?... Soon after they were arrested in Kerala, the entire government was at their beck and call... There is a history of Italian connections and of the government of India bending backwards," Prasad said, adding that this was seen in the case of Bofors scam accused Ottavio Quattrochi.

"If this happens then we will have say that there is a collusive script in the Italian marines case. There are a lot of suspicious circumstances. We appreciate that prime minister has said consequences will follow. We hope he will walk the talk," Prasad said.

The main Opposition also alleged that the Italian ambassador is guilty of contempt of the Supreme Court and misrepresentation of facts and demanded stringent action against him.