Congress questions Prime Minister’s “silence” on Indian sailors’ deaths, finds Rubio’s remarks unacceptable
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi. File | Photo credit: AICC via ANI
Questioning the government’s “silence” over the death of three Indian sailors in a US attack on a commercial vessel near the Gulf of Oman and the “threatening” and “unacceptable” language allegedly used by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a conversation with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in this regard, the Congress accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to defend India’s and India’s sovereignty.
The controversy intensified after Mr Rubio’s office released a statement about his conversation with Mr Jaishankar, in which he stressed that all commercial vessels must “immediately comply” with the directives of US forces operating in the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that violations of its blockade and illegal shipments of Iranian oil would not be tolerated.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the government of remaining silent in the face of what he described as arrogant language from the United States. He said the absence of any remorse or apology from Washington, coupled with the instructions issued to the vessels, had undermined India’s position.
“A free country would never tolerate such language. But our compromised Prime Minister? They are silent. They listen like an obedient servant and carry out orders. A compromised Prime Minister will not defend the honor of the country – because those who insult the country are under their control,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
“Silence cannot replace responsibility,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, pointing out that there was no condolence message or public statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi even three days after the incident. “Our national interests are being surrendered on a daily basis. And you have the audacity to sugarcoat it with the ‘Vishwaguru’ narrative,” Mr Kharge said in a post on X. He accused the government of treating Indian lives as a “consequence” in matters of foreign policy.
“Obedient servant, follows orders: Rahul slams PM over US statements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in France next week.
Being an Indian under the rule of a compromised prime minister means misery.
Foreign forces are killing our citizens. Our government silently obeys orders like an obedient servant – and our citizens are left to rot.
Bring this Indian home. Now. https://t.co/WE7Y69wHZt
—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 14, 2026
Citing the upcoming encounter, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh questioned whether the Prime Minister would condemn the incident off the coast of Oman, as well as Mr Rubio’s “threatening” and “truly unacceptable” expression when he meets his “self-proclaimed good friend” President Trump. Mr. Ramesh also called for the scrapping of the India-US trade deal, saying it would jeopardize the future of millions of Indian farmers.
Countries like Malaysia, Mr. Ramesh pointed out, have declared their trade deals with the US “null and void” after a US Supreme Court ruling struck down the Trump-era tariffs that formed the backdrop for those deals, while the Modi government “sits mute and helpless”.
US trade representative Jamieson Greer will also visit India soon. Mr. Ramesh said: “In light of the interaction between Rubio and Jaishankar, the US Supreme Court’s repeal of President Trump’s tariff system and the patent unfairness of the trade deal, the least India needs to do is delay the visit of the US Trade Representative. Any self-respecting nation will do more than just phone calls and press statements to defend its sovereignty against bullies.”
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the party’s stance, calling the government’s response inadequate and calling for a firmer stance. “India must firmly assert that it is a sovereign and independent nation,” she said.
Published – 14 Jun 2026 14:24 IST