Rahul Gandhi attacks PM over deaths of Indian seafarers in U.S. strikes

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File photo of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. | Photo Credit: ANI

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday (June 12, 2026) criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of three Indian seafarers in U.S. military strikes on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman, alleging that the Prime Minister had remained silent despite the loss of Indian lives.

In a post on X in Hindi, the Congress leader questioned the Prime Minister’s response to the incidents.

“Three Indians have been killed in U.S. attacks on three ships in international waters within three days. And our compromised PM... Not a single word. When any foreign power murders an Indian, the Prime Minister has to speak up. But he can never utter even one word,” Mr. Gandhi said.

“Next week at the G-7, 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,” the Congress leader said, adding, “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 came a day after the Congress condemned “reckless military actions” by the U.S. and demanded that the Union government take all necessary diplomatic measures to establish accountability.

On Thursday (June 11), India said three merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members had come under attack by the American military in the Gulf of Oman over the previous four days, resulting in the deaths of three Indian nationals. New Delhi also lodged a strong protest with Washington over the incidents and asserted that such attacks must cease.