Best thing for Italy is to send back marines:Tharoor

Dubbing Italy's stand in the marines' case as "legally, morally and diplomatically" wrong, Minister of State for Human Resources Development Shashi Tharoor today said the best course for it would be to send back to India the duo charged with killing Indian fishermen.

Though he prefaced his comments saying he was not involved in any negotiations on the matter since he was dealing with a different portfolio, he said in reply to reporters' queries that the position of the Italian ambassador to India was "invedious."

A former UN diplomat, Tharoor said the Italian ambassador had committed a serious mistake by breach of his assurance given to the apex court of India that the marines would come back after elections in their country.

"His credibility is at stake. His position has become untenable. He has made a legal, moral and diplomatic commitment. He cannot go back on that. This is completely unprecedented," he added.

Tharoor said the UPA Government at the Centre had taken a "firm and sincere" position in the matter.

"The Government of India has taken a clear, sincere and firm position. The Prime Minister has made it very clear that India wants Italy to send back the marines (to face trial)," he said.