05 March,2026 01:41 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Rahul Gandhi. File pic
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the escalating conflict in West Asia, alleging that India currently has a "compromised PM" who has surrendered the country's strategic autonomy at a time of growing geopolitical instability.
In a post on X, Gandhi warned that the global situation has become increasingly volatile and that India faces serious risks due to the ongoing conflict in the region. He said the country needed strong and steady leadership to navigate the uncertain international environment.
Gandhi highlighted concerns over India's energy supply chain, noting that the country's oil imports could be severely affected if tensions continue to escalate in West Asia. According to him, more than 40 per cent of India's oil imports pass through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz.
"The world has entered a volatile phase and stormy seas lie ahead," Gandhi wrote, warning that disruptions in the region could have major implications for India's economy and energy security.
He also pointed out that the situation could be even more critical for supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which are heavily dependent on maritime routes passing through the Persian Gulf region.
The Congress leader further criticised Modi for not publicly commenting on recent developments related to the conflict, claiming that the crisis had already reached India's strategic neighbourhood.
"The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing," Gandhi said, suggesting that India required clear leadership and a decisive diplomatic response in such circumstances.
"At a moment like this, India needs a steady hand at the wheel. Instead, India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy," he alleged.
Gandhi's remarks came a day after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian naval vessel in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka while it was returning from the Milan naval exercise.
Confirming the strike, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a Pentagon media briefing that it was the first time since World War II that an enemy warship had been sunk by a torpedo.
According to reports quoting the Sri Lankan Navy, 87 bodies were recovered from the sea following the sinking of the warship IRIS Dena, while 32 personnel were rescued.
The incident is being seen as a major escalation of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran outside the Persian Gulf region. It has also raised fresh concerns about maritime security in the Indian Ocean, an area traditionally considered the strategic domain of the Indian Navy.
The latest developments come in the wake of military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, which reportedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following the offensive, Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli positions and American military bases across several Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
In recent days, the situation has intensified with multiple rounds of attacks and counter-attacks between the rival sides, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Amid the escalating tensions, India has maintained that the crisis should be resolved through diplomatic engagement and dialogue rather than military confrontation.
New Delhi has consistently urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution to prevent further destabilisation in the region.
