Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not issuing a statement on the sinking of the Iranian warship, Iris Dina, by the US in the Indian Ocean.
Gandhi claimed that the escalating conflict between the US and Iran “has reached our backyard” and questioned the lack of comment from the Prime Minister. Follow the sunken IRIS Dena live updates
One of Iran’s newest warships, the Iris Dina, sank after being torpedoed by a US submarine in waters near Sri Lanka on Wednesday. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the incident and said it caused a “quiet death” for the ship.
In a post on X, LoP wrote: “The world has entered a volatile phase. Stormy seas lie ahead.” “Indian oil supplies are threatened, as more than 40% of our imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is worse for LPG and LNG,” he claimed.
Read also | Which led to the sinking of the Iranian warship Iris Dina returning from India
“The conflict has reached our backyard, with the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. However, the Prime Minister has said nothing. At a moment like this, we need a steady hand on the wheel. Instead, India has a compromising Prime Minister who has surrendered our strategic independence,” the Congress leader added.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Washington’s action has “huge ramifications for India”, adding that it is shocking that there has been no official response to the shipwreck so far. Follow live updates of US-Iran war news
Ramesh criticized the Center and said that any official statement on the matter should not come as a surprise as the Modi government “is yet to break its silence on targeted assassinations in Iran,” referring to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the recent US-Israeli strikes.
Read also | Iran says the United States struck its ship Iris Dina, “Guest of the Indian Navy,” without warning
“Never has the Indian government seemed so timid and afraid,” he said in a post on X.
The opposition leaders’ reactions came as official sources confirmed to HT that although the Iranians say the IRIS Dena was a “guest of the Indian Navy”, the ship did not seek any assistance after the declaration of war on February 28.
The sources said that the ship and its crew had only Indian guests from February 16 to 25.
Iran criticized the United States for sinking its warship in international waters without warning. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi issued a stern warning to Washington, saying: “Mark my words: The United States will deeply regret the precedent it has set.”
