Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the killing of three Indian seafarers in a US military strike off the coast of Oman, alleging that no further proof was needed that Modi had belittled India's global standing and sovereignty.
Kharge's allegations
Kharge claimed that India's national interests were being surrendered on a daily basis. In a post on X, he said, Even as the mortal remains of Indian seafarers killed in Oman by American action arrive in India, I join the nation in mourning the loss of the three Indian seafarers. Three days have passed since this tragic incident. Yet, there has been no public statement at all or even a condolence message from PM Narendra Modi. The nation was waiting for it, Modi ji.
He further stated, You spoke about 'desh nahi jhukne doonge' but no proof is now required that you have belittled India's global standing and sovereignty. And you have the audacity to sugarcoat it with the 'Vishwaguru' narrative. India used to be a 'Vishwaguru' when it maintained its strategic autonomy and followed the policy of 'Non-Alignment'. The world listened to us when all previous governments followed this consistent policy of not surrendering.
Demand for accountability
Kharge emphasized that Indian lives cannot be treated as an afterthought in matters of foreign policy. At a time when serious questions remain unanswered, silence is not a substitute for accountability. The nation deserves clarity and the families deserve justice, he added.
Priyanka Gandhi's criticism
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also slammed the Modi government over the issue. She said, The Modi government's silence following the killing of three Indian sailors in a US attack is shameful. Instead of expressing regret or apologising for these killings, the US is resorting to the language of threats and commands. It is imperative to firmly convey to the US that India is a sovereign and independent nation capable of defending its sovereignty. Yet, our compromised Prime Minister is failing to protect both the citizens and the nation's sovereignty.
US response and diplomatic exchanges
Their remarks came a day after the US said it conveyed to India that any violation of its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and illicit transport of Iranian oil would not be tolerated. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed this to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who spoke with him on Friday to lodge a strong protest against the death of Indian nationals in US attacks on ships off the coast of Oman.
According to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, Secretary of State Rubio stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the strait.
The US has imposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz since April 13, preventing transit of ships to and from the ports of the Islamic Republic as part of its efforts to restrict Tehran from profiting from oil trade. Three vessels with Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week. One of them resulted in the death of three Indian seafarers on Wednesday. Jaishankar then called Rubio to protest their death in a US military strike on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified, Jaishankar had said in a post on X after he spoke with Rubio.
India summons US diplomat
Earlier on Friday, India summoned US Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks in New Delhi and told him that the American military's lethal strikes on commercial vessels with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman were unacceptable.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks against Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was totally unacceptable. Iran vehemently rejected Trump's allegation. The US president's accusation against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless, the Iranian Embassy in India said. It is an attempt to divert public attention from the brutal fact that the US has attacked 3 Indian vessels in less than a week and killed 3 innocent Indian sailors. That's pathetic! it said in a social media post late Friday night.
Shipping through the strait has been severely disrupted since February 28, after the US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes. Disruptions in marine traffic continue even though a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8.
