Rajesh Sharma, father of Aditya Sharma, acknowledged the diplomatic responsibilities of the Prime Minister and said that such obligations may have prevented him from expressing his concerns more forcefully. However, he thanked the Prime Minister and expressed hope that the issue of the safety of Indian sailors and seafarers would receive greater attention in the future.
"The Prime Minister might be bound due to his diplomatic responsibilities, and he could not raise his voice in the manner he should have. I still want to thank him, and I wish that our sailors and seafarers will be safe in the future after his statement. I want to appeal to the government to ensure the safety of our seafarers,"
His appeal came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns over the safety of maritime workers amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region during discussions with President Donald Trump.
Addressing a session titled "Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity" at the G7 Summit, the Prime Minister highlighted the dangers faced by civilian maritime workers operating in conflict zones.
"Several Indian civilians have also lost their lives. The safety of seafarers, who connect nations through global maritime trade, is our responsibility," Modi said.
Emphasising that civilian workers should not become victims of geopolitical conflicts, the Prime Minister called for the protection of international shipping routes.
"We must ensure that sea routes remain secure and that seafarers can carry out their work without fear," he said, urging greater international cooperation to prevent such incidents.
Responding to the issue, President Donald Trump briefly acknowledged the tragedy.
"I heard about that. It's a rough profession, and we work together on it. This has been happening throughout time, but we work together. We love all those people. They are great people," Trump said.
The remarks came amid growing concerns following the deaths of three Indian seafarers, including Aditya Sharma, in a United States military strike on the oil tanker MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month.
Aditya Sharma, a deck cadet on probation, was among the three Indian crew members killed when the vessel was struck on June 10 near the Strait of Hormuz. There were 24 Indian crew members on board at the time of the attack.
While 21 sailors were rescued by responding Omani forces, Aditya Sharma and two other Indian seafarers lost their lives in the incident.
The tragedy triggered diplomatic tensions between India and the United States, with the Ministry of External Affairs summoning United States Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks twice within a week to register a strong protest over the deaths of the Indian nationals.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar later stated on X that he had spoken with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reiterated India's strong objections to the attacks.
"Spoke to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India's strong protest at the attacks by the United States Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified," Jaishankar said.
The deaths of the three Indian seafarers have intensified concerns over the security of civilian maritime workers operating in volatile regions, prompting renewed calls for stronger international safeguards to ensure that commercial shipping personnel do not become casualties of geopolitical conflicts.
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