Opposition parties on Saturday stepped up pressure on the Center over the killing of three Indian sailors in US military strikes on commercial ships off the coast of Oman, with NCP MP Supriya Sule demanding a stronger response from the government and promising to support the affected families.
The remarks came a day after India summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi for the second time this week and lodged a strong protest over the attacks that killed three Indian crew members and raised concerns about the safety of Indian sailors working in the Gulf of Oman amid the conflict in West Asia.
Supriya Sule calls for a stronger response
Sule described the deaths as “extremely sad” and said India must take a firm stand in defending its citizens.
“It is a very tragic incident and the way it happened is very sad. We have lost three Indians. We expected the government of India to respond to this matter. These three children belonged to this soil; they were Indians,” PTI news agency quoted her as saying.
Stressing that the country owes the victims dignity and respect, Sule added that “India must take a strong stand” and urged the government to discuss the matter.
She added: “We expect the government of India to discuss this matter, and if the government is unable to do anything through its foreign policy, then the opposition stands with those families. If the government cannot fight for them, then we, on behalf of every Indian and every child, will stand and fight for every Indian.”
Meanwhile, BJD lawmaker Solata Deo also criticized the government, questioning its response to the deaths and accusing it of failing to take a firm stance against the United States.
She said: “There were 24 crew members on board the ship. I saw sadness on the faces of the family members of the deceased. What step will the government take? The government cannot take any step because it has mortgaged itself to America.”
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his relations with US President Donald Trump, Deo added: “They say, my friend Trump, is this your relationship? Don’t you feel bad, honorable Prime Minister? What happened to the foreign policy that surrenders to America’s words under its policy?”
She added: “They killed our people, and attacked our oil tanker with missiles. We certainly hope that you will take the strictest possible action. All of India expects this from you.”
Three Indian sailors were confirmed dead
The political reaction comes after Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that three Indian sailors who were reported missing after the US raid on the tanker MT Sitipilo have died.
The Palau-flagged ship was among three tankers targeted by US forces this week. Later, the Omani Armed Forces rescued the remaining crew members, including 21 Indians on board the Sitipilo.
Among the dead was 23-year-old Aditya Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, a deck cadet undergoing training to become a licensed ship’s officer.
More than 60 Indian crew members were rescued from the three damaged ships – 24 from MT Marivex, 21 from MT Settebello and 20 from MT Jalveer.
