New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday accused the central government of meekly giving in to pressure from Italy in the case of its marines who killed two Indian fishermen.

"The government has meekly succumbed under pressure from Italy," said BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad said.

The comment comes as the central government Monday told the Supreme Court that it was not invoking the anti-piracy law against the two marines.

"India is finding it difficult to resist pressure from Italy. Here is a case where Indian fishermen have been killed and government is securing relief for them... This is regrettable, we demand government comes out with all facts," Prasad said.

The marines, Massimilliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, have been held in India since February 2012 when they allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off the coast of the south Indian state of Kerala, mistaking them for pirates.

The marines were serving as security personnel on an Italian oil tanker MT Enrica Lexie crossing the Indian Ocean.