Indian Opposition Demands Strong Action Against US Over Seafarers' Deaths

India's opposition parties have intensified their pressure on the central government regarding the deaths of three Indian seafarers in recent US military strikes on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule has called for a robust response from New Delhi, asserting that the opposition stands ready to support the affected families.

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It is a very tragic incident and deeply saddening the way it happened. We lost three Indians. We expected that the Government of India should respond to this. Those three children belonged to this soil; they were Indians.

Sule described the incident as "deeply saddening" and emphasized that India must adopt a firm stance to protect its citizens. "Those three children belonged to this soil; they were Indians," she stated, urging the government to address the matter. She added, "India should take a strong stand." If the government proves incapable of resolving the issue through foreign policy, Sule declared, "then the opposition stands with those families. And if the government cannot fight for them, then we, on behalf of every Indian and every child, will stand up and fight for every Indian."

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India should take a strong stand.

Meanwhile, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sulata Deo also voiced criticism, questioning the government's response and alleging a lack of assertiveness towards the United States. Deo suggested that the government has become overly accommodating to American interests. She directly addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referencing his relationship with US President Donald Trump and questioning his empathy, stating, "They killed our people, attacked our oil tanker with missiles. We certainly hope that you will take the strictest possible action. All of India expects this from you."

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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. And if the government cannot fight for them, then we, on behalf of every Indian and every child, will stand up and fight for every Indian.

The political outcry follows the confirmation by Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal that the three Indian crew members aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, one of three vessels targeted by US forces, had died. The remaining crew, including 21 Indians, were rescued by Omani forces. India had previously summoned a senior American diplomat to lodge a strong protest over the attacks, which have heightened concerns for the safety of Indian mariners operating in the volatile Gulf of Oman region amidst ongoing West Asia conflicts.

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The government cannot take any step because it has mortgaged itself to America.