The father of the deceased Indian sailor, Aditya Sharma, on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Center to ensure the safety of Indian sailors working in international waters, following the Prime Minister’s statements on maritime security during his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
Rajesh Sharma, Aditya’s father, acknowledged the Prime Minister’s diplomatic limitations but expressed hope that the issue of seafarers’ safety would receive greater attention in the future.
“The Prime Minister may have been obligated due to his diplomatic responsibilities and could not raise his voice the way he should have done. I still want to thank him and hope our sailors and seafarers are safe in the future after his statement… I want to appeal to the government to ensure the safety of our seafarers,” he told ANI.
His comments came after Modi raised concerns about the safety of maritime workers amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region during his talks with Trump.
Prime Minister raises issue with Trump at G7 summit
Addressing a session on “Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity”, the Prime Minister highlighted the risks faced by civilian maritime workers working in conflict zones.
“Many Indian civilians have also lost their lives. The safety of seafarers, who connect countries through global maritime trade, is our responsibility,” Modi said.
He stressed that civilian workers should not become victims of geopolitical conflicts, and called for the protection of global shipping routes.
“We must ensure that sea routes remain safe and that sailors can do their work without fear,” he added, urging more international cooperation to prevent such incidents.
Trump briefly acknowledged the tragedy during the interaction.
“I heard about it,” Trump said. “It’s a tough job, and we’re working together to make it happen.” “This has been happening all the time, but we work together. We love all these people. They’re great people.”
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These statements come against the backdrop of the killing of three Indian sailors, including Aditya Sharma, in a US military strike on the oil tanker MT Setibulu in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month.
Aditya Sharma, a cadet on the ship’s observation deck, was among the three Indian crew members killed when the ship was bombed on June 10 near the Strait of Hormuz. He was among the 24 Indian crew members on board the plane at the time of the attack.
While Omani forces rescued 21 sailors, Aditya and two other Indian sailors lost their lives.
The incident sparked diplomatic tensions, as the State Department summoned US Chargé d’Affairs Jason Meeks twice within a week to lodge a strong protest against the killing of Indian citizens.
In a post on website
(with ANI inputs)
