PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi (R)

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday turned up the heat on Centre and EAM Jaishankar over US secretary of state Marco Rubio‘s remark after his phone-call with external affairs minister on Middle East crisis.Other Congress leaders also joined the attack, questioning both Washington’s tone and New Delhi’s response after three mariners were killed in US military strike.Rahul opened a fresh front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi arguing that the government’s response to the deaths of Indian mariners and Rubio’s response.In a strongly worded post, the Congress leader said Washington had shown neither remorse nor regret and had instead continued to dictate terms.He wrote on X: “Just days after the murder of three Indian sailors in American attacks—no remorse, no apology. On the contrary, America has continued issuing orders. Read their words: “Comply immediately with the orders of the US military.” No violation “will be tolerated”.”“A free country would never tolerate such language. But our Compromised PM? Silent. They listen like an obedient servant and comply with the orders. Compromised PM will not defend the country’s honor—because those who insult the country are under their control,” he added.The largest-opposition party seized on Rubio’s comments, arguing that instead of expressing regret over the deaths of three Indian mariners in a recent US military strike, Washington chose to issue a “warning” to India.Leading the attack, Congress leader Pawan Khera said the Modi government should have demanded an unconditional apology from the United States.“India should have demanded an apology from the United States for the killing of three young Indian sailors in the American military strike—and that demand should have been accepted unconditionally,” he said.Khera said Rubio’s remarks reflected a tone of command rather than contrition.“Instead, Secretary Rubio deemed it appropriate to issue a warning and stated that failing to follow US military orders “will not be tolerated.” This is the language of issuing commands, not of remorse.”The Congress leader reserved some of his sharpest criticism for Jaishankar’s response, arguing that the government’s language did not match the gravity of the incident.He said “New Delhi’s response made the entire episode even more shameful. Instead of presenting the attack in its true light, the foreign minister merely said that lethal actions against commercial ships are “not justified.”“Not justified”? That’s what you say about an overpriced sandwich at an airport, not about a military strike that takes the lives of innocent civilians. The right words for America’s action are: illegal, reckless, and unacceptable,” he added further.Congress MP Manish Tewari also joined the offensive, describing Rubio’s comments as unusually combative and devoid of empathy.“No regret , No remorse, no empathy, no sympathy. Abrupt, abrasive confrontational. @SecRubio could not have been more belligerent. The sub text in between the lines – is Indian sailors were responsible for what happened to them. Hardly the language you use with a country you call a friend,” Tewari said in a post on X.He further challenged Jaishankar to release India’s version of the conversation.“Rather than being namby pamby and wishy washy Jaishankar must put out his read out of the call . It would be interesting to know whether EAM Jaishankar stood upto this coarseness,” Tewari added.The political storm erupted after the US state department disclosed details of Rubio’s call with Jaishankar. According to Washington, Rubio stressed that commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz must comply with directives issued by US forces.“Secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke yesterday with external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two officials discussed recent events in the Strait of Hormuz. The Secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait. He underscored that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated,” the office of spokesperson said.Jaishankar, however, said he used the conversation to convey India’s strong protest over the attack that claimed the lives of three Indian mariners.“Spoke to US secretary of state Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.The political fire at the Centre and Jaishankar’s phone-call with Rubio came amid constantly evolving situation in the Middle East.