Congress Alleges PM Modi Remained Silent On Indian Sailors' Death During Trump Meet: 'Unacceptable'

Last Updated:June 18, 2026, 08:50 IST

Congress attacked PM Modi after his G7 meeting with Trump, alleging he failed to seek an apology or publicly raise the deaths of three Indian sailors in a US strike.

Congress on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, alleging that he remained silent on the deaths of three Indian seafarers killed in a US strike on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

The opposition party said the Prime Minister failed to raise the issue publicly despite growing outrage over the incident and questioned why no apology or expression of regret was sought from Washington.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, alleged that PM Modi had not publicly mentioned the deaths of the Indian sailors during his interaction with Trump.

“The Prime Minister met with his so-called good friend, President Trump, in Avian. Both leaders gave public statements. The Prime Minister made no mention of the killing of three Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman due to the American attack," Ramesh said.

He further noted that Trump was the only leader who took questions from the media and responded when asked about the deaths of the Indian nationals.

“Only President Trump took questions. He responded to the question about the killing of Indian citizens. The self-proclaimed world guru remained silent nonetheless. Utterly shameful and completely unacceptable," Ramesh added.

The Congress leader’s remarks came after PM Modi and Trump held talks focused on repairing bilateral ties, expanding cooperation in trade, defence, energy and technology, and discussing developments in West Asia.

Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera also launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister, arguing that the real issue was not Trump’s praise for PM Modi but the Indian government’s response to the deaths of the sailors.

“Trump showering Modi with theatrical praise is not the real news," Khera wrote on X. “The real news is that Narendra Modi and his government neither demanded an unconditional apology from Trump and his administration for the killing of three Indian sailors in a U.S. air strike in the Gulf of Oman, nor secured even the most basic expression of remorse."

Referring to Trump’s response when asked about the deaths, Khera said the US President failed to offer condolences and instead described the tragedy as part of a dangerous profession.

“When directly asked about the deaths by a journalist, Trump evaded offering an apology or even extending condolences to the grieving families. Instead, he dismissed the tragedy with the remark: ‘This is a rough profession… This has been happening throughout time,’" Khera said.

“As though the loss of three young Indian lives was merely an occupational hazard," he added.

Khera further accused PM Modi of failing to speak on behalf of the bereaved families.

“And he who flaunts being the current ‘Prime Minister of India’ sat there in silence – unable or unwilling to speak for the families of the fallen sailors, or to defend the dignity of the nation he claims to lead. Trump’s praise is irrelevant. Modi’s silence is the real story," he said.

However, during the meeting, PM Modi did raise concerns about the safety of seafarers while discussing regional stability and the implementation of the US-brokered peace understanding with Iran.

According to the news agency PTI, PM Modi appreciated efforts to restore peace in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global trade.

He also highlighted the contribution of Indian seafarers working across international maritime routes and urged that their safety receive the highest priority.

“Hundreds of thousands of Indian seafarers are working and performing their duties across global maritime trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, and making a huge contribution to the progress of the world, and their safety is of utmost importance to us," PM Modi said during the meeting.

Trump, meanwhile, said he was aware of the deaths.

“I heard about that (the deaths), it’s a rough profession, no question about it," he said, adding, “We will work together."

DEATH OF THREE INDIAN SEAFARERS

The controversy stems from the attack on the Palau-flagged vessel MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman.

According to the Indian Embassy in Oman, 21 Indian crew members were rescued while three seafarers lost their lives in the incident.

The mortal remains of two of the deceased sailors, Aditya Sharma and Shivanand Chaurasiya, have since been repatriated to India.

Soon after, the Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest with the United States over the deaths and also summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi.

India conveyed its concern over the use of force against civilian shipping and called for measures to prevent further loss of civilian lives in the region.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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