On March 5, a day after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka, the Congress questioned the government's silence. Rahul Gandhi stated that while the country needed a strong leader, the current Prime Minister had "compromised our strategic autonomy."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Modi government's "reckless abdication" of India's strategic and national interests is clear.
"An Iranian ship, which was an Indian guest and unarmed, was returning from the 2026 International Fleet Review, hosted by us, and was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). There has been no statement of concern or condolence. Prime Minister Modi has remained silent," Kharge said on X.
"Why are we being lectured on the doctrines of MAHASAGAR and India being a 'Net Security Provider' in the IOR, when we can't react to what's happening in our own backyard? As many as 38 Indian commercial ships, along with 1100 sailors, are stranded in the Gulf of Hormuz," he said.
"Indian sailors, including Captain Ashish Kumar, are reportedly among those who have died. Why is there no maritime rescue or relief operation? You say that we only have 25 days of crude and oil stocks left. With rising oil prices, what is our contingency plan, especially in light of the GOI virtually accepting the demand to stop importing Russian oil? What about trade with other key commodities with Gulf countries?" the Congress chief said.
According to the MEA statement on March 3, "some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing."
"There are over one crore Indians in the Gulf region countries. Medical students are sending desperate video messages seeking help. How is the GOI ensuring their well-being? Is there any evacuation plan in place from the affected areas?" Kharge said.
"Clearly, Modi Ji's surrender is both political and moral! It undermines India's core national interests and damages our foreign policy, which has been carefully and painstakingly built and followed by successive governments," Kharge said.
Gandhi said the world has entered a volatile phase and "stormy seas lie ahead."
"India's oil supplies are under threat, with more than 40% of our imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is even worse for LPG and LNG," he said on X.
"The conflict has reached our doorstep, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet, the Prime Minister has remained silent," Gandhi said.
At this moment, India needs a steady hand at the helm, he said.
"Instead, India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy," Gandhi alleged.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, also said that it should not be surprising given that the Modi government has not yet broken its silence regarding the targeted assassinations in Iran.
In a significant escalation of the West Asia crisis, a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, when it was returning after participating in the Milan naval exercise, a multilateral wargame hosted by India.
In a post on X, Ramesh said that the Indian Navy's flagship multilateral exercise, MILAN, was first held in 1995 and the 13th edition was held in Visakhapatnam from February 19 to February 25, 2026, with 18 warships from other countries, including the USA and Iran, participating.
The exercise was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ramesh pointed out.
"This makes yesterday's sinking of the Iranian warship that participated in the Milan exercise by a US Navy submarine in the Indian Ocean, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Galle in Sri Lanka, all the more extraordinary. The Iranian warship was on its way back home," he said.
This US action has enormous implications for India, and it is shocking that there has been no official response to it so far, Ramesh said.
"Maybe it should not be surprising given that the Modi government has not yet broken its silence regarding the targeted assassinations in Iran. Never before has the Indian government looked so timid and fearful," the Congress leader said.
US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, confirming the strike, said at a Pentagon media briefing that it was the first sinking of an enemy warship by a torpedo since World War II.
The Associated Press, quoting the Sri Lankan Navy, reported that 87 bodies were recovered and that 32 people were rescued after the sinking of the warship IRIS Dena.
This incident marks a major escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran outside the Persian Gulf and raises questions relating to maritime security in the Indian Ocean, which is largely considered the backyard of the Indian Navy.
The US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following the military offensive, Iran has carried out a wave of attacks, mainly targeting Israel and American military bases in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
In the last few days, the conflict has significantly widened with attacks and counter-attacks by both sides.
India has called for resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
