Modi asks Centre to ensure return of Italian marines to India

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that the government should accept nothing less than the return of Italian marines, facing trial for killing two Indian fishermen to the country.

"On the issue of Italian marines, nothing short of their return to India must be the acceptable outcome," Modi wrote on his twitter account.

"UPA should explain to the nation what action it plans to take to ensure the return of the marines to India to face trial," he twitted, demanding an explanation on the issue from the Congress-led UPA government.

The two marines - Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone- charged with homicide for killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February last year, were permitted by the apex court recently to go to Italy for four weeks to vote in election.

The duo were sent back to Italy on the assurance of the Italian government that they would return back to India for the trial.

But, in a sudden U-turn the Italian government has now refused to send them back to India.

BJP has demanded that the government should exert pressure on Italy to send back the two marines who are facing trial in India.