Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of three Indian seafarers in US military strikes on commercial vessels near Oman.
In a post on X, Gandhi questioned the Prime Minister’s silence and accused him of failing to protect Indian citizens working abroad.
“Three Indians have been killed in US attacks on three ships in international waters within three days. And our compromised PM… Not a single word,” Rahul Gandhi said.
He further said that when Indian citizens are killed by a foreign power, the Prime Minister must speak up, but alleged that Modi has not done so.
“When any foreign power murders an Indian, the Prime Minister has to speak up. But he can never utter even one word,” he added.
“Compromised PM Cannot Protect Mother India’s Sons,” Says Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism by linking the issue to India’s foreign policy and the Prime Minister’s diplomatic engagements.
“Next week at the G7, just days after the murder of our sailors, Modiji will smile, embrace, and sign agreements — but for those three Indians, he won’t have a word to spare,” he said.
He added, “A compromised PM cannot protect the sons of Mother India, because he lacks either the courage or the strength to confront those who took the lives of those sons.”
The remarks come amid escalating political debate over India’s response to US military action in the Gulf region.
India’s Protest After US Strikes on Ships With Indian Crew
The controversy follows a series of US strikes on commercial vessels operating near Oman and the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.
On June 10, US forces struck the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello, which had 24 Indian crew members on board. While 21 sailors were rescued, three were later confirmed dead.
Two other vessels, including the Palau-flagged Marivex and the Guinea-Bissau-flagged Jalveer, were also targeted in separate incidents involving Indian crew members.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly condemned the attacks and summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi, issuing a formal diplomatic protest.
Congress Demands Accountability and Diplomatic Action
The Congress party has also condemned the US military action, calling it “reckless” and demanding accountability.
The party said the government must take all necessary diplomatic steps to ensure such incidents do not recur and to safeguard Indian lives working in international waters.
The political row has intensified scrutiny of India’s foreign policy approach and the safety of Indian seafarers in conflict zones.
Government Says Attacks Must Stop
India has maintained that attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply concerning and has called for restraint and dialogue.
The MEA stated that such incidents are a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict in the region and stressed the need for immediate de-escalation.
