Oppn targets govt over Italian marines

Italy's refusal to hand over its two marines snowballed into a issue in Parliament Wednesday, with the Opposition wondering how they were allowed to get away for casting votes in Italian polls. HT reports.

Italy's refusal to hand over its two marines snowballed into a issue in Parliament Wednesday, with the Opposition wondering how they were allowed to get away for casting votes in Italian polls.

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Saying the marines succeeded in absconding as a result of "fraud and deception", leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the Italian ambassador could no longer enjoy diplomatic privileges on two grounds: he had himself submitted to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in giving a sovereign undertaking on behalf of Italy, and that the Vienna Convention of 1961 could not override the Indian constitution of 1950, under which the SC can punish for its own contempt.

BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad said if the tensions impacted India's access to information from Italy on the AugustaWestland deal, it would suggest a "collusive script".

CPM's Sitaram Yechury charged that Purulia arms drop case accused Kim Davis, Bhopal tragedy accused Anderson and Bofors accused Quattrocchi were also allowed to get away.