Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday (June 14, 2026) lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the U.S.’ statements after three Indian sailors were killed in American attacks, saying “our compromised PM” listens like an “obedient servant” and complies with the “orders”.
Mr. Gandhi also said that “a compromised PM” will not defend the nation’s honour because he is beholden to those who insult the country.
His remarks come a day after the U.S. 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.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed this to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who spoke with him on Friday (June 12, 2026) to lodge a strong protest against the death of Indian nationals in U.S. attacks on ships off the coast of Oman.
In a post in Hindi on X, Mr. Gandhi said, “Just days after three Indian sailors were killed in American attacks there is neither regret nor apology. On the contrary, the U.S. continues to issue orders.”
“Read their words: ‘Obey U.S. military orders immediately.’ No violation ‘will be tolerated’,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
“A sovereign nation would never tolerate such language. But our compromised PM? Silent. He listens like an obedient servant and complies with the orders,” Mr. Gandhi said.
“A compromised PM will not defend the nation’s honor because he is beholden to those who insult the country,” he said.
In another post in Hindi, Mr. Gandhi referred to the death of an Indian national due to medical complications aboard a vessel currently docked at the Duqm Port in Oman.
“Under a compromised PM, being an Indian means facing a wretched plight. Foreign powers kill our citizens. Our government meekly obeys orders like an obedient servant and our citizens are left to rot,” he said.
“Bring this Indian home. Now,” Mr. Gandhi said, tagging a post quoting the Indian captain of MT Celestial as saying that the body of his second officer is decomposing.
The Indian national died due to medical complications aboard a vessel currently docked at the Duqm Port in Oman, according to the Indian embassy in Muscat.
In a post on X on Saturday (June 13, 2026), the Indian mission identified the deceased as Nishanth Uirthanathan, who was on board MT Celestial when he passed away.
“Indian national Mr. Nishanth Uirthanathan passed away due to medical complications,” it said, adding his mortal remains are currently on the vessel at the Duqm Port.
The embassy said it has been in continuous contact with the ship management company and is coordinating with all concerned stakeholders.
“Necessary arrangements are being made for the early repatriation of the mortal remains to India,” the embassy said, as it conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family.
According to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, Secretary of State Rubio, in his call with Jaishankar, stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from U.S. forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait.
Mr. Rubio underscored that violations of the U.S. blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated, Pigott said in Washington.
The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz since April 13, preventing transit of ships to and from the ports of the Islamic Republic as part of its efforts to restrict Tehran from profiting from oil trade.
Three vessels with Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week. One of them resulted in the death of three Indian seafarers on Wednesday (June 10, 2026).
Mr. Jaishankar then called Mr. Rubio to protest their death in a U.S. military strike on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified, Mr. Jaishankar had said in a post on X after he spoke with Mr. Rubio.
Earlier on Friday (June 12, 2026), India summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks in New Delhi and told him that the American military’s lethal strikes on commercial vessels with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman are unacceptable.
Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks against Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was totally unacceptable.
“Their [Iran’s] totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. They better get their act together and FAST,” Mr. Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social.
Iran vehemently rejected Trump’s allegation. The U.S. President’s accusation against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless, the Iranian Embassy in India said.
“It is an attempt to divert public attention from the brutal fact that the U.S. has attacked 3 Indian vessels in less than a week and killed 3 innocent Indian sailors. That’s pathetic!” it said in a social media post late Friday (June 12, 2026) night.
Shippings through the strait have been severely disrupted since February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes. Disruptions in marine traffic continue even though a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8.
Published – June 14, 2026 02:24 pm IST
