Mariners issue: Sonia hits out at her motherland

, March 19: Congress chief

on Monday slammed

on the Italian naval guards issue, saying no country should take India for granted.

She said this while speaking at the general body meeting of the Congress parliamentary party, which was the first such interaction with her MPs after the start of the budget session of the Parliament.

The two Italian mariners, accused of killing two Indian fishermen, did not return to India after the latter's Supreme Court permitted them of travelling to Italy to participate in the national election.

The Italian Ambassador to India, Daniele Mancini, had assured Indian authorities that the duo would return after casting their ballot. India considered this to be a breach of trust and decided to downgrade bilateral relations with Italy.

The UPA chairperson also said that the government was fully committed to the cause of the Lankan Tamils and an impartial inquiry should take place into the allegations of atrocities against them. However, after the DMK pulling out of the UPA, it remains to be seen how Gandhi focuses on the issue for now, the prime concern would be to ensure survival of her own government.

The Supreme Court on Monday had pulled up Mancini for the breach of trust and extended its order of restraining him from leaving the country, asserting that he can not claim diplomatic immunity. The apex court bench said that it had never expected that the Italian ambassador would renege like the way he had done.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Mancini and Italy pressed on the issue of immunity after the extension order was passed.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir reminded him again about the envoy's undertaking. The order of stopping Mancini from leaving the country was extended till April 2 when the case will come up for hearing again. The court said the Italian envoy had lost trust and said he did not have any immunity.

OneIndia News