Rahul Gandhi calls PM Modi ‘compromised PM’ after US strikes kill 3 Indian seafarers

The death of three Indian seafarers in a US Navy strike on a commercial vessel has become a fresh bone of contention between the Centre and the Congress with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday (June 12) lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue dubbing him as a “compromised PM” who has failed to protect the sons 'Mother India' as he did not dare to act against those responsible for the deaths.

Rahul targets PM Modi

Rahul, in a post on X, also questioned the Prime Minister’s silence on the issue. The remarks come a day after the Ministry of External Affairs said that the US Navy was responsible for the attacks.

Also Read: Govt puts maritime agencies on high alert after MT Settebello attack

"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. When any foreign power murders an Indian, the prime minister has to speak up." "But he can never utter even one word. Next week at the G7, just days after the murder of our sailors, Modi ji will smile, embrace, and sign agreements -- but for those three Indians, he won't have a word to spare," stated Rahul.

‘Compromised PM' jibe

"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," he added.

Also Read: India says US Navy behind attack on MT Settebello, lodges protest

Earlier on Thursday, the Congress slammed the Trump administration’s "reckless military actions" demanding that the Centre takes all diplomatic measures to ensure accountability.

The Congress further alleged that PM Modi, who has repeatedly showcased his personal rapport with President Donald Trump as a diplomatic achievement, cannot evade responsibility when that relationship fails to protect Indian lives and interests.

Centre confirms US role

India on Thursday said three merchant ships with Indian crew members came under attack from American military off the coast of Oman in the last four days, resulting in the death of three nationals, and it has lodged a strong protest with the US over the strikes.

It was New Delhi's first public acknowledgement that the US Navy targeted the three ships with Indian crew members. New Delhi asserted that these attacks must stop.

Also Read: MT Settebello attack: Three missing Indian seafarers found dead, Sonowal confirms

A Palau-flagged oil tanker, Marivex, carrying 24 Indian seafarers, was disabled by US forces on June 8. All crew members were safely rescued. On June 10, the US struck another Palau-flagged tanker, Settebello, killing three out of the 24 Indian sailors on board.

Another vessel, Jalveer, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker with 20 Indians, was attacked on Thursday.

Details of the strikes

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a news briefing that the three separate strikes on Settebello, Marivex and Jalveer "came from the US Navy".

In a social media post, the US Central Command said Jalveer was "disabled" as a combat aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the vessel's engine room after the crew "repeatedly failed to comply with directions from US forces".

It said that Jalveer "violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil".

(With agency inputs)