Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule led the criticism, expressing grief over the deaths and urging the Government of India to take a firm stand in defence of its citizens. The remarks came a day after India summoned a senior American diplomat in New Delhi for the second time this week and lodged a strong protest over the attacks. The strikes have claimed the lives of three Indian crew members and heightened concerns over the security of Indian seafarers working in the Gulf of Oman amid the escalating West Asia conflict.
Describing the incident as deeply tragic, Sule said the loss of three Indian citizens demanded a decisive response from the government. She stated that the deceased belonged to India and that the nation expected the government to address the matter through diplomatic channels. Sule further said that if the government failed to secure justice through foreign policy measures, the opposition would stand firmly with the affected families and fight for the rights of every Indian citizen.
Biju Janata Dal Member of Parliament Sulata Deo also criticised the government’s handling of the issue, questioning its response to the deaths and accusing it of failing to take a strong position against the United States. Referring to the grief of the families of the deceased crew members, Deo asked what action the government intended to take following the attack.
She further criticised the state of India’s foreign policy, questioning the government’s relationship with United States President Donald Trump and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the strongest possible action. According to Deo, the attack on the oil tanker and the deaths of Indian citizens required a firm and decisive response from the government.
The political reactions followed confirmation from Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal that three Indian seafarers, who had earlier been reported missing after a United States strike on the tanker MT Settebello, had died.
The Palau-flagged MT Settebello was among three tankers targeted by United States forces during the week. Omani armed forces later conducted rescue operations and saved the remaining crew members, including 21 Indians aboard the vessel.
Among those killed was 23-year-old Aditya Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, a deck cadet who was undergoing training to become a licensed ship officer.
Authorities confirmed that more than 60 Indian crew members were rescued from the three affected vessels. The rescued personnel included 24 crew members from MT Marivex, 21 from MT Settebello and 20 from MT Jalveer.
The deaths of the three Indian seafarers have now emerged as a significant diplomatic and political issue, placing renewed focus on the safety of Indian maritime workers in conflict zones and prompting calls for stronger government intervention to protect citizens serving on international commercial vessels.
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