New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Centre
over the deaths of three Indian sailors in a US Navy strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf.
The vessel, MT Settebello, came under attack on Wednesday after US forces alleged that it had violated the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports. Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 were rescued. Three sailors were later confirmed dead.
The deceased were identified as marine engineer Patnala Suresh, 44, from Visakhapatnam, Shivanand Chaurasia, 38, from Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district, and Aditya Sharma, 23, from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district.
Rahul Gandhi’s criticism
The political row intensified after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding the incident. According to a US State Department readout, commercial vessels must comply with directions issued by American forces. It also warned that violations of the US blockade on Iranian ports “will not be tolerated”.
Reacting to the statement, Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, “Just days after the murder of three Indian sailors in American attacks – no remorse, no apology. On the contrary, America has continued issuing orders.”
He added, “Read their words: ‘Comply immediately with the orders of the US military.’ No violation ‘will be tolerated.’”
The Congress leader further said, “A free country would never tolerate such language. But our Compromised PM? Silent. They listen like an obedient servant and comply with the orders. Compromised PM will not defend the country’s honour–because those who insult the country have him under their control.”
Opposition leaders join attack
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the prime minister. In a post on X, he said Modi had issued no public statement or condolence message following the deaths.
Kharge accused the government of weakening India’s sovereignty and said, “Our National interests are being surrendered on a daily basis. And you have the audacity to sugarcoat it with the ‘Vishwaguru’ narrative…Indian lives cannot be treated as an afterthought in matters of foreign policy.”
Congress MP Manish Tewari described the incident as unfortunate. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the government’s response and said Jaishankar should have demanded an apology from Washington.
“Why was Jaishankar so apologetic? We have lost lives. We should have demanded an apology, but look at the international humiliation,” Khera told ANI.
India’s response
On Saturday, Jaishankar said he had conveyed India’s strong protest directly to Rubio.
In a post on X, the external affairs minister said, “Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified.”
A day earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned US Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks and lodged a formal protest over continuing attacks on commercial vessels near the Oman coast.
