BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi After Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Endorses PM Modi's G7 Strategy

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's remarks supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message on the safety of Indian sailors during his meeting with US President Donald Trump have sparked a fresh political row, with the Bharatiya Janata Party using the comments to target Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The development comes after the Congress criticised the Prime Minister for allegedly remaining silent on the deaths of Indian seafarers in a US strike.

Speaking about the bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Shashi Tharoor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had clearly conveyed India's concerns regarding the safety of civilian sailors caught in conflict zones. Shashi Tharoor stressed that commercial seafarers should never become targets during wartime and said the Prime Minister delivered the message in both public and private discussions with Donald Trump.

Elaborating on India's position, Shashi Tharoor said the country has a large number of sailors serving on Indian-flagged and international commercial vessels. He added that even if authorities believe ships are violating a blockade, alternative measures should be adopted instead of endangering civilian lives, emphasising that commercial sailors are not combatants.

The Congress had earlier accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to publicly raise the deaths of three Indian seafarers who were reportedly killed in a US strike on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman. The opposition questioned why no apology or expression of regret was sought from Washington despite growing concern over the incident.

The BJP seized upon Shashi Tharoor's remarks to attack Rahul Gandhi, claiming they validated the government's diplomatic approach. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said Shashi Tharoor had "exposed" Rahul Gandhi, arguing that Congress leaders themselves were acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to safeguard India's national interests and protect Indian citizens abroad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump held their first bilateral meeting in 16 months during the G7 Summit in Evian, France. During the discussions, the Prime Minister raised concerns about the security of Indian seafarers operating in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region, noting that lakhs of Indians work in the maritime sector and that ensuring their safety remains a top priority amid ongoing regional tensions.