Rahul Gandhi Targets PM Modi Over US Strike That Killed Three Indian Sailors, Calls Government’s Response ‘Silent and Submissive’

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as the government’s “silence” following the deaths of three Indian seafarers in an

American missile strike on a commercial vessel in the Gulf region on June 10. Gandhi questioned why the government had not taken a firmer stand after the incident and accused the Prime Minister of failing to defend India’s dignity on the global stage.

The controversy gained momentum after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the deaths of the Indian crew members.

Following the discussion, the US State Department issued an official statement reiterating that commercial ships operating in the region must comply with directives issued by American forces.

The statement further warned that any breach of the US-imposed blockade on Iranian ports “would not be tolerated.”

Reacting to the development, Gandhi took to X and said that a sovereign nation would never accept such language from another country. He alleged that the Prime Minister’s silence reflected a position of weakness and claimed that the government was responding to Washington’s directives with unquestioning obedience.

“Just days after three Indian sailors lost their lives in American attacks, there has been no expression of regret, no apology, and no accountability,” Gandhi wrote.

Instead, he said, the United States had continued to issue instructions and warnings, even after the deaths of Indian citizens.

Quoting the wording of the US statement, Gandhi pointed to phrases such as “Comply immediately with the orders of the US military” and “No violation will be tolerated.”

He argued that such language was unacceptable for an independent nation and questioned why the Indian government had not publicly objected to it.

The Congress leader further alleged that Prime Minister Modi would not stand up for the country’s honour because, according to him, those who insult India continue to exert influence over the government.

He claimed that the administration had failed to demonstrate the firmness expected in matters concerning the safety and dignity of Indian citizens abroad.

In a separate post on X, Gandhi urged the government to ensure that the mortal remains of the deceased sailors were brought back to India without delay.

Expressing grief over the tragedy, he said that under the present dispensation, ordinary Indians were being left vulnerable and unprotected.

He also accused the government of failing to respond adequately when Indian citizens were harmed by foreign powers.

According to Gandhi, while Indian nationals were paying the price, the government’s reaction remained subdued and ineffective.

Gandhi’s remarks come at a diplomatically significant moment, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump are expected to attend the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France.

The two leaders are also likely to hold bilateral discussions covering trade, strategic cooperation and regional security issues.

The incident at the centre of the political controversy involves the commercial vessel MT Settebello, which reportedly came under attack after American forces alleged that it had violated the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports.

Of the 24 Indian crew members aboard the ship, 21 were rescued safely, while the remaining three were later confirmed dead, triggering outrage and renewed questions over the government’s response to the tragedy.