Enrica Lexie

It is not right to say that Italy has toned down its stand on sovereignty stand. That issue is still under SC and SC has clarified that this judgement has no bearing on any other issues under its consideration. If it is decided by Supreme Court that India has right to try this case then the marines will be produced as required before the court. If the decision is otherwise that question does not arise. As per PTI reported in Hindu "“In view of the clear position taken by the Kerala government that [the] vessel was not [the] object of [the] crime, nor [do the] circumstances create suspicion of offence by the vessel, the seizure of [the] vessel cannot legally stand." That means the holding of the ship by Kerala Government was illegal. Should not Kerala Government be pulled up for that? After the instant Kerala Government told the owners of Enrica Lexie that it is free to go once they give assurance of the presence of all on board including the Marines and assurance to the production of ship as and when required the responsibility of Kerala Government for keeping the vessel ceases. But from reports it looks that the Government was worried about tampering of any evidence. In fact as soon as the police went aboard and searched for evidences the ship could have been released. But Kerala Government was playing to the gallery for the sake of the by-election and was afraid of opposition taking the issue to malign it.