Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of remaining silent after three Indian sailors were killed in recent US Navy strikes on a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman. In a sharp attack, Gandhi said the Prime Minister failed to defend India’s honour and called him a “compromised PM.”
The incident occurred when the US Navy targeted the MT Settebello, a vessel accused of violating a blockade on Iranian ports. Of the 24 Indian crew members onboard, 21 were rescued, while three lost their lives. The Ministry of External Affairs lodged strong protests with Washington, summoning US officials twice in one week to demand accountability.
Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, highlighted that “just days after the murder of three Indian sailors in American attacks – no remorse, no apology.” He criticized the language used in US military orders and accused Modi of listening “like an obedient servant.”
The opposition has used the tragedy to question the government’s foreign policy stance, arguing that Modi’s silence undermines India’s sovereignty. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has already raised the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but opposition leaders insist that stronger action is needed.
The deaths have sparked wider debate on India’s ability to protect its nationals abroad, with families of the deceased awaiting the return of mortal remains. The incident underscores the diplomatic strain between India and the US, even as both nations maintain strategic ties in defense and technology.
