‘PM Modi could not raise his voice the way he should have’: Father of Indian sailor Aditya Sharma killed in US attack | Today’s news
Rajesh Sharma, father of Indian sailor Aditya Sharma killed in a US strike, on Thursday said he understood the diplomatic constraints faced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss the issue of sailors’ safety.
He urged the government to take stronger steps to ensure the protection and safety of Indian seafarers operating in international waters.
“The Prime Minister might have been bound by his diplomatic duties and could not have raised his voice as he should have. I still want to thank him and wish our sailors and sailors to be safe in future after his statement… I want to appeal to the government to ensure the safety of our sailors,” he said, according to ANI.
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During the G7 summit, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for stronger protection of maritime workers and said that civilian workers, including seafarers, should not be treated as collateral victims in geopolitical conflicts.
Rajesh Sharma, the father of Indian sailor Aditya Sharma, who was killed in the US strike, felt that Prime Minister Modi could not express his concerns for the safety of sailors as forcefully as he should have due to diplomatic restrictions.
During his meeting with President Trump at the G7 summit, Prime Minister Modi called for the protection of sea lanes and stressed the need to ensure that seafarers can do their jobs without fear.
President Trump acknowledged the risks of the maritime professions, calling it a “tough profession,” noting the ongoing challenges facing seafarers around the world.
In response to the death of Indian sailors in a US military strike, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US chargé d’affaires to file a strong protest and address concerns about the safety of the sailors.
Sharma’s comments followed PM Modi’s meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. During the talks, Prime Minister Modi called for stronger protections for maritime workers, who are increasingly exposed to risks as a result of escalating regional tensions in the wake of the Middle East war.
During a session on “Forging New Partnerships and Reviving International Solidarity”, Prime Minister Modi said, “Several Indian civilians have also lost their lives. We are responsible for the safety of seafarers who connect nations through global maritime trade.”
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The Prime Minister emphasized the key principle of global trade that civilian workers must not be treated as collateral victims in geopolitical conflicts or naval blockades.
“We must ensure that sea lanes remain safe and that seafarers can carry out their work without fear,” he added, calling for joint efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“rough profession”
Trump briefly acknowledged the incident, drawing attention to the risks associated with maritime professions, but refrained from further detailed remarks.
He said: “I’ve heard about it. It’s a tough profession and we work together. It happens all the time, but we work together. We love all these people. They’re great people.”
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Earlier, three Indian sailors were killed in a US military attack on a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel MT Settebello was targeted after US forces claimed it breached the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports. Of the 24 Indian crew on board, 21 were rescued while three were declared dead.
The mortal remains of Aditya Sharma and Shivanand Chaurasiya were repatriated
Meanwhile, the remains of two of the three Indian sailors killed in the US attack off the coast of Oman were flown back to India on Wednesday, according to an official statement.
This follows the return of 21 rescued crew members from the same Palau-flagged vessel, MT Settebello, a day earlier. Authorities have not provided any updates on the third deceased sailor, Patnal Suresh.
“The mortal remains of Mr. Aditya Sharma and Mr. Shivanand Chaurasiya who tragically lost their lives in the attack on MT Settebello have been repatriated to India,” the Indian Embassy in Muscat wrote on X.
“Our sincere condolences go out to their families at this difficult time,” it added.
In response to the attacks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned US chargé d’affaires Jason Meeks twice in a week and lodged a strong protest.
