Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched a scathing attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence" on the killing of three Indian seafarers. Alleging that India's national interests are being surrendered on a daily basis, he said that no proof is required that he had "belittled" India's global standing and sovereignty.
"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," Kharge said on X."Three days have passed since this tragic incident. Yet, there has been no public statement at all or even a condolence message from PM @narendramodi," the Congress president said"The nation was waiting for it, Modi ji," he added.
"You spoke about 'desh nahi jhukne doonge' but no proof is now required that you have belittled India's global standing and sovereignty," Kharge alleged.He said India's national interests are being surrendered on a daily basis."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," Kharge said.
Indian lives cannot be treated as an afterthought in matters of foreign policy, he said.At a time when serious questions remain unanswered, "silence is not a substitute for accountability", Kharge said.The nation deserves clarity, and the families deserve justice, the Congress chief said.Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also slammed the Modi government over the issue.
"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," Priyanka Gandhi said.
Their remarks come 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 will 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.
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