Advani cites Nehru, MEA clarifies

Leader of the Opposition LK Advani today gave a new dimension to the arrest of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi when he claimed that contrary to the UPA8217;s assertions there was indeed an extradition treaty between India and Argentina.

Leader of the Opposition LK Advani today gave a new dimension to the arrest of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi when he claimed that contrary to the UPA8217;s assertions there was indeed an extradition treaty between India and Argentina.

Advani based his arguments on a written reply in the Lok Sabha on March 16, 1956 by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru listing Argentina among foreign countries with whom the earlier British colonial government had entered into extradition treaties and which were still in force.

But by late evening, the MEA had refuted his claim, stating that Nehru8217;s statement had been superseded by the Extradition Act of 1962.

Faced with a volley of queries after the BJP had brought the matter to light, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying:

8220;A question has been raised about the existence of an extradition treaty between India and Argentina. An extradition treaty of 1889 between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Argentine Republic was applicable to British India. However, post-independence and following the enactment of The Extradition Act 1962 by Indian Parliament, the Treaty of 1889 is not operative since it was not notified in accordance with Section 3, clause 3 of the Act, after having obtained the consent of the Government of the Argentine Republic. Thus India does not have any currently operative Extradition Treaty with Argentina.8221;

The ministry8217;s clarification on the issue is unlikely to act as a dampener to the BJP8217;s plans to put the government on the defensive on the issue. The Opposition has already prepared plans for keeping the focus on the Italian businessman, and his assumed proximity with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, for the entire week even as it demands a reply from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Earlier in the day, a meeting of NDA partners outlined a hardline stand to embarrass the government on the Bofors pay-off case.

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8220;The country will be happy if the financial beneficiaries of the Bofors deal are brought to book,8221; said Advani.