New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that he had “ceded” India’s “strategic independence”, after the US torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean in India’s sphere of influence.
“The world has entered a volatile phase. Stormy seas lie ahead. India’s oil supply is under threat, with more than 40% of our imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is even worse for LPG and LNG. The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sinking in the Indian Ocean. And yet, the Prime Minister has said nothing. At a moment like this, we need a steady hand on the wheel. Instead, India has a compromised Prime Minister who has given up. For our country. “Strategic autonomy,” tweeted Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
At least 87 people were killed when a US submarine torpedoed the Iranian ship that was participating in the international fleet review in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and the multinational Milan 2026 exercise, just a few days ago. However, people familiar with the matter told HT that the ship was hit outside India’s territorial waters after it completed its participation in the exercise.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharg also criticized the Prime Minister and tweeted, “The Modi government’s reckless concession to India’s strategic and national interests is clear to all.”
Citing the sinking of the Iranian warship, Karji said: “India’s guest was returning, unarmed from the 2026 International Fleet Review, which we hosted, and was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). No statement of concern or condolence was issued. Prime Minister Modi remained silent. Why lecture us on the Mahasagar principles and India as a ‘net security provider’ in the IOR, when you cannot respond to what is happening in your own region.” Backyard?
“As many as 38 Indian-flagged merchant ships along with 1,100 sailors are stuck in the Gulf of Hormuz. Two Indian sailors, including Captain Ashish Kumar, are reported to have died. Why is there no maritime rescue or relief operation? You say there are only 25 days of crude and oil stocks left. With oil prices rising, what is our energy contingency plan, especially in the wake of the Iraqi government actually accepting the request to stop importing Russian oil? And what about trade in other major commodities? With Iran? Kharj added.
Kharge also expressed concern about Indians living in the Gulf region. “There are a million Indians in Gulf countries. Medical students are releasing desperate video messages pleading for help. How is the GoI ensuring their welfare? Is there any evacuation plan in place from the affected areas? Modi ji’s surrender is clearly both political and moral! It degrades India’s core national interests and is destroying our foreign policy carefully and carefully followed by successive governments over the years!”
Congress leader Pawan Khera also accused the Prime Minister of alleged “criminal silence” over the recent military strikes by the US and Israel against Iran, alleging that the government’s response reflects external pressures affecting India’s foreign policy. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Khaira said the Prime Minister’s failure to condemn the actions, including the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei within 48 hours of Modi’s return from Israel, had damaged India’s international standing. “The criminal silence…if it is from the country’s prime minister, it no longer remains a personal matter, but rather begins to look like an ugly stain on the entire country,” Khaira said, suggesting that the government was acting under foreign influence.
Khera also warned of significant economic consequences for India arising from the conflict, especially due to unrest in the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, the closure of the main sea route has led to stranding of goods worth approx $10,000 crore, along with 38 ships and nearly 1,100 Indian sailors. He noted that a large share of India’s energy supply passes through this route, including crude oil, liquefied natural gas and nearly 85% of LPG imports, raising fears of shortages that could affect transportation, manufacturing and agriculture. “The economic aspect of this illegal war… every Indian will have to bear the brunt of it,” Khera said, adding that the disruption could also affect the availability of domestic gas and fertilizer production.
Historically, India has maintained deep diplomatic and civilizational ties with Iran, while at the same time strengthening defense and strategic cooperation with Israel. Successive governments have tried to balance these relationships as part of India’s broader West Asia policy, ensuring energy security and regional stability while strengthening defense partnerships. This carefully maintained balance has been undermined under the current administration, Khera said, alleging that Modi’s personal affinity with the Israeli leadership has shifted India’s traditional foreign policy approach and ignored long-term national interests.
The Congress leader also expressed concerns over an incident in the Indian Ocean where the US destroyed an Iranian ship that was present in Indian waters for a ceremony. He asked what steps the Indian government had taken to protect the ship and protect Indian economic interests when Iranian officials were in the country at India’s invitation. “What is this puppet king’s compulsion… that he starts dancing whenever the strings are pulled?” Khaira asked, accusing the government of behaving like a pawn in global geopolitics. “We have become a pawn on the chessboard, where we are just a pawn. We are not even the queen,” he said, questioning the administration’s ability to act independently amid rising international tensions.
