Rahul Gandhi Blasts Modi After 3 Indian Sailors Die in US Attacks
Updated
Updated · The Hindu · Jun 14
Rahul Gandhi Blasts Modi After 3 Indian Sailors Die in US Attacks
3 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Jun 14
Summary
Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of staying silent and acting like an “obedient servant” after three Indian sailors were killed in U.S. attacks off Oman.
The attack came amid a U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and Washington told India that any violation and illicit transport of Iranian oil “will not be tolerated.”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had protested the deaths to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while India also summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires to call the strikes on commercial vessels unacceptable.
A separate case sharpened Gandhi’s criticism after Indian national Nishanth Uirthanathan died aboard MT Celestial at Duqm Port in Oman; the Indian embassy said repatriation arrangements are underway.
The dispute adds to wider tensions around disrupted shipping in the Strait since U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, with Washington and Tehran trading blame over attacks on Indian-linked vessels.
With its sailors killed and economy hit, how will India navigate the U.S.-Iran crossfire?
Are commercial ships in the Gulf legitimate targets or victims of a superpower's undeclared war?
As a vital global trade artery is blocked, are we on the brink of a worldwide economic crisis?
Indian Seafarers Caught in US-Iran Gulf Conflict: 14 Dead, Dozens Rescued, and the Global Shipping Crisis
Overview
Between June 8 and 11, 2026, U.S. military strikes on commercial vessels off Oman led to the tragic deaths of Indian sailors, sparking a strong international outcry over seafarer safety. These attacks were part of escalating retaliatory actions between the United States and Iran, following an earlier incident where an Iranian drone downed a U.S. helicopter. Despite President Trump halting a planned strike on Iran, the U.S. naval blockade remained in place, raising legal questions. In response, the Indian government began closely monitoring its vessels, highlighting the growing risks and diplomatic tensions caused by the conflict.