Rahul Gandhi slams Modi govt, says US-Israel-Iran conflict 'reached India's backyard'
He also criticised Modi’s leadership, saying that at a time of global uncertainty India needs “a steady hand at the wheel,” but instead has “a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy"
India's top opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following reports that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean yesterday, warning that the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict has "reached India's backyard."
In a post on X today (5 March), Gandhi said the world had entered a volatile phase and cautioned that the crisis could threaten India's energy security.
"The world has entered a volatile phase. Stormy seas lie ahead. India's oil supplies are under threat, with more than 40% of our imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is even worse for LPG and LNG," he wrote.
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"The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing," Gandhi added.
He also criticised Modi's leadership, saying that at a time of global uncertainty India needs "a steady hand at the wheel," but instead has "a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy."
Rahul Gandhi's remarks came days after he and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi criticised the Modi government for remaining silent on the reported assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike last week.
According to media reports, the Iranian frigate "IRIS Dena" was hit on international waters by US Virginia class SSN yesterday. The sinking of the vessel off the Sri Lankan coast of Galle said left at least 87 sailors dead while 32 survivors were rescued and taken to hospital in Galle.
Former Indian Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash described the US action against the Iranian warship as a "senseless" and "inflammatory act".
"Sinking of Iranian warship, off southern tip of Sri Lanka, with heavy loss of life is a senseless & inflammatory act. Initiating another dimension of violence in this open-ended conflict, will spread alarm across the high seas & disrupt global seaborne commerce. Condemnable!," he said on X. End
Meanwhile, the Congress General Secretary incharge of Communications Jairam Ramesh said it is shocking that there has been no response from the Modi government and claimed that never before has the Indian government looked so "timid and fearful".
Ramesh said maybe it should not be surprising since the Modi government has still not broken its silence over the targeted assassinations in Iran."
