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Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday criticised the central government's foreign policy following the death of three Indian seafarers in an attack on the Palau-flagged vessel, MT Settebello. The ship was targeted off the coast of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.
Talking to the reporters, Akhilesh Yadav asserted that if the Indian government had succeeded in stopping the war, the Prime Minister would have rightfully earned the title of "Vishwa Guru" on the global stage. "This was a lapse in India's foreign policy. Had India stood firm and succeeded in preventing the war, no lives would have been lost today... It was India's responsibility to prevent the war. Had the Indian government stopped the war, the Prime Minister of India would have been hailed as Vishwa Guru," said the SP Chief. Meanwhile, India on Friday summoned the United States Charge d'Affaires, Jason Meeks, and lodged a "strong protest" over the continuing attacks by US naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman, which have resulted in the deaths of three Indian nationals. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the US Charge d'Affaires was called to the ministry earlier in the day, where India's concerns over the incidents were formally conveyed. "A strong protest was lodged with him regarding the continuing attacks by US naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman, which have already resulted in the tragic and avoidable loss of three Indian lives," the MEA said in the release. The ministry reiterated India's deep concern over the use of lethal force against civilian shipping and stressed that such actions pose a threat to maritime safety and regional stability. "The Ministry once again conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping. Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time," the statement added. India also urged the United States to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of civilian vessels and prevent any further loss of life. The MEA, in its statement, further stated that the US Charge d'Affaires was requested to convey India's strong concerns to the American authorities and ensure that US forces operating in the region adopt all necessary measures to avoid civilian casualties. "The US Charge d'Affaires was requested to convey India's strong concerns to his authorities and to ensure that US forces operating in the region take all necessary measures to prevent the loss of civilian life," the ministry stated. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, criticised PM Modi's silence over the death of three Indian sailors on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman, with Gandhi declaring that a "compromised PM" cannot protect the "sons of Mother India," as the Prime Minister lacks the courage and strength to confront those responsible for the loss of Indian lives. In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that PM Modi has not uttered a word regarding the death of the sailors, who were killed in a US strike. (ANI)
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