Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the progress in the Enrica Lexie case in the Supreme Court vindicated the state government's stand that the Italian marines charged with shooting dead two fishermen should be tried under the Indian law.
The assurance given by Italian government in the apex court, while seeking the release of the ship, that those aboard the vessel would be made available when required by Indian legal authorities, also showed the state had taken the correct stand, Mr Chandy told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
He said it was unfortunate that certain quarters had sought to blame the state government for the stand taken by Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval in the case a few days ago.
The subsequent progress in the case had proved that this charge was totally baseless as Mr Raval had been removed from the case and the state succeeded in getting Attorney General G E Vahnavati to appear for the government.
Referring to the compensation deal struck by Italian government with the kin of the fishermen and the boat owner, Mr Chandy said this also had been held "illegal" by the Supreme Court.
On the apex court's remark that Kerala should have filed an objection to the compromise, Mr Chandy said the state's counsel had explained in the court on the reason for the delay on the issue.