Live: 'Bought time to avoid death penalty for marines'

9.15 pm: Bought time to avoid death penalty for marines, says Italian minister

Italy’s deputy foreign minister Staffan de Mistura was on the defensive when he addressed a press conference explaining why the Italian marines were not send back to India.

“Death penalty for the marines became an issue of concern in Italy, since it is considered a very serious punishment in our country,” and added that time was bought so that death penalty could be avoided.

However, expressing that a major diplomatic crisis has been avoided by bringing the marines back to India, he said he wished that the process of trial was expedited. “We wish that the special court be established quick and fast,” he said.

He also said that Italy has obtained a letter by the Indian government guaranting that marines won’t be sentenced to death.

6.50 pm: Italian deputy foreign minister to brief media

Italy’s deputy foreign minister Staffan de Mistura will address the media along with the two Italian marines shortly. They will drive straight from the IGI airport in New Delhi to the Italian embassy.

6.15 pm: Italian marines land in New Delhi

The two Italian marines - Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone - accused of killing Indian fishermen have landed in New Delhi. The two marines were accused of killing two fishermen in February 2012, off the coast of Kerala.

5.15 pm: It was our job, we did it, says Salman Khurshid

Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid said that there was no deal with Italy for the return of the two marines and nothing was offered to the Italian government. “Whatever we told them was what I told the Parliament today. Nothing more.”

“We clarified in writing that if the marines come back in the period given to them (22 March) then they would be complying with the SC order and they would be free to move in the country as per restrictions given by the Supreme Court.”

“As the ministry of external affairs, it was our job to do it and we did it.”

The Supreme Court would have examined Vienna convention and come to a conclusion. But this is no longer an issue.

Khurshid also hit out at the Opposition claiming credit for the return of the marines. “Find it little difficult to conceive that the opposition had any part to play in marines returning, but if they want credit, fine.”

12. 55 pm: PM happy with the outcome

Welcoming Italy’s decision to send back its marines, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday that their return would be in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court and consistent with the dignity of the judicial process in India.

“We are happy with the outcome. I welcome the return of Italian marines,” Manmohan Singh told reporters as the marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen headed back to stand trial in India.

“The Italian marines are coming back in accordance with the direction of Supreme Court and it is consistent with the dignity of judicial process in India,” he said.

Last week, the PM termed as “unacceptable” Italy’s refusal to send its two marines back to India and said the issue will be taken up with that country.

The Kerala Chief Minister has also welcomed the return of the marines to the country.

12. 35 pm: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid tables statement in Lok Sabha, says two Italian marines on way to India.

Khurshid made a statement in Lok Sabha on the return of two Italian marines to India accused in the killing of two Indian fishermen and detailed out the SC order in the case.

In his statement in Parliament, Khurshid said the Italian marines will not get death sentence as the Indian fishermen killings case was not a rarest of rare case. He also said they won’t be arrested if they return before the apex court’s deadline. “The two Italian marines are on their way to India. Notwithstanding pending proceedings, the government has informed the Italian government that the marines will not be liable for arrest if they return within time frame laid down by the Supreme Court,” Khurshid said in his statement.

Trial of marines will proceed as per directions of Supreme Court in its order of 18 Jan 2013-statement in Parliament http://t.co/GOM7PNkBKu

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 22, 2013

12. 30 pm: We are not like the BJP, says Manish Tewari

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari took a dig at the BJP on the Italian marines issue and said that they were uselessly blaming the government. “Now they are coming back, we knew this would happen,” he said.

“We are not like the BJP and I do not want to remind them on their attitude with regard to the Italian marines issue.There is no  need to applaud or be critical. India is a matured democracy, and that is felt across the world,” he added.

12. 25 pm: Kerala CM thanks PM, takes a dig at the opposition

Under heat from Left inside and outside the assembly on the Italian marines issue, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy took on the opposition as he triumphantly announced in the house that the two marines are returning to India.

“Early this week, CPI-M’s (Communist Party of India-Marxist) P.K.Gurudasan sought leave for an adjournment motion to discuss the statement that the two Italian marines who went to cast their votes in the national elections won’t return. He also dragged the name of Sonia Gandhi into this issue for no reason.

“I made the firm assurance that the two would return after the prime minister assured me,” said Chandy amidst thundering applause from the treasury benches.

“Diplomatic immunity does not mean that the law of our land can be broken. When this issue came up before the apex court, all saw the tough posture taken by the centre and the court ruled that the Italian ambassador cannot leave the country. No country can take India lightly.

“I take this opportunity to express the thanks on behalf of all in our state to the apex court and our prime minister for the stand they took,” added Chandy.

11. 59 am: Italian marines to be escorted by Deputy FM

The Italian marines are escorted by Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura on a military special aircraft. Sources say there is a possibility that the marines could serve their prison term in Italy. There is an agreement between the two countries on the transfer of prisoners. The marines are expected to reach India at 4:30 pm today.

11. 10 am: Govt’s diplomacy succeeded, says Chidambaram

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that government’s diplomacy succeeded in the Italian marines case. A snarky Chidambaram told the media,“So, the government’s diplomacy succeeded. "

Last night, Italy said it will send back to India two marines to face trial for killing two fishermen after receiving an assurance from the Indian government about the protection of their fundamental rights. The two Italian marines are on their way back to India.

10. 30 am: Govt’s diplomacy worked in Italian marines case, says BJP

BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy welcomed the news of the return of the Italian marines and said that the government’s diplomacy worked. “The way the government carried out its diplomacy seems to have worked. Tough stand of Supreme Court also seems to have worked,” he said.

Meanwhile**,** Fishermen association of Kerala said that the return of Italy marines is a victory of Indian fishermen struggle all over India

9. 35 am: Italian marines won’t be arrested immediately

The Attorney General has said that the marines will not be immediately arrested on their return to India. Sources say that the Italian marines will be taken straight to the Italian embassy and will face trial in a special court set up by the Supreme Court.

Italy had said it will send back to India two marines to face trial for killing two fishermen after receiving an assurance from the Indian government about the protection of their ‘fundamental rights’.

9. 25 am: Italian marines leave for India

Italian media reports that the marines left for India around midnight. They will reach India today.

9. 15 am: Return of Italian marines shows effectiveness of diplomacy, says Khurshid

Eaxternal Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that the return of the Italian marines shows that diplomacy works. “All of you were too quick to write off diplomacy,” he told reporters.

However, Khurshid said that the return of the Italian marines will not change the Supreme Court ruling. “The law will not change, they will have to respect the SC order,” he said.

8. 50 am: Indian ambassador to Italy Basant Gupta to leave for Rome

Reports say Indian ambassador to Italy Basant Kumar Gupta will return to Rome following the return of the Italian marines.

India had withhold posting of its Ambassador-designate Basant Kumar Gupta to Rome and the Indian government had said further steps will be taken after completion of the review of bilateral ties with Italy.

Taking a tough stand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had accused Italy of violating “every rule of diplomatic discourse” and asked it to send back the two marines undergoing trial for killing Indian fishermen, failing which there will be consequences on bilateral ties.

8.20 am: Italian envoy to move SC to seek lifting of restraining order

On Monday, the Supreme Court had pulled up Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini for breaching an undertaking given to the apex court and restrained him from leaving India till 2 April. The SC said a contempt of court charge would be made out only if the ambassador fails to bring back the marines by 22 March.

7. 45 am: Our tough stand has worked, says government

As news of Italy’s decision to send back the two marines accused of killing Indian fishermen to face trial here came in, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh  tweeted “India’s tough stand as articulated by the PM and Sonia Gandhi has worked.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: “Following diplomatic contacts #Italy informed that Marines will return to #India in accordance with timeline provided to Supreme Court.”

On Monday, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had slammed Italy for its refusal to send back the two marines and had asserted that no country will be allowed to take India for granted. “The defiance of the Italian government on the question of the two marines and its betrayal of a commitment to our Supreme Court is outright unacceptable,“Gandhi had said, while addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

According to Italian news agency ANSA, which quoted Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister Steffan de Mistura, the breakthrough came after the Indian government assured the Italian authorities there would be no death penalty against the two marines and that India had given a written assurance that their fundamental rights would be protected.

22 March, 12: 30 am: Italy to send back the marines to India

Italy said it will send back to India two marines to face trial for killing two fishermen after receiving an assurance from the Indian government about the protection of their fundamental rights.

“The two sailor will start tonight for India,” the Italian government said in a statement, reversing an earlier decision not to send them to India as agreed when they were granted permission to return home to vote in elections.

“The Italian government requested and received written assurances from the Indian authorities regarding the treatment of the marines and the protection of their fundamental rights,” the government said in a statement.

Italy’s previous decision not to send marines – Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone – to face trial triggered a diplomatic standoff, with the Indian Supreme Court barring the Italian ambassador from leaving the country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week termed as “unacceptable” Italy’s refusal to send its two marines back to India and said the issue will be taken up with that country.