BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Tuesday said the Italian Government''s decision not send back two of its marines to face trial in connection with the murder of two Kerala fishermen, has made both the ruling UPA and India look like a ''banana republic''.

Responding to Rome''s decision, Rudy said: "It''s a betrayal and a bluff by the Italian Government. It is also a bluff to the highest court of land, which is the Supreme Court, which was generous enough to allow them (the marines) to go back to their land for the Italian elections."

He asked," Why does the Italian Government take India so lightly? Why do they take the Indian Government to be a ''banana republic''? The BJP demands, in the interest of justice, the fugitive sailors should be brought back to India, and should be tried in Indian courts. It is not a question of whether the government was soft or not. The Supreme Court must have given some affidavit and we have to believe it."