New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday mounted a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of maintaining a "deafening silence" over the deaths of three Indian seafarers killed in a US military action off the Oman coast amid the escalating West Asia crisis.

The Opposition also questioned whether Modi would raise the issue directly with US President Donald Trump during their upcoming meeting, saying the government must demonstrate that the lives of Indian citizens cannot be treated as a diplomatic afterthought.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the nation was mourning the loss of the three Indian sailors whose mortal remains have now returned home, but the Prime Minister had yet to issue a public statement or offer condolences.

"Three days have passed since this tragic incident. Yet, there has been no public statement at all or even a condolence message from PM Narendra Modi. The nation was waiting for it," Kharge said in a post on X.

Taking aim at the government's foreign policy approach, Kharge accused the Modi administration of compromising India's strategic independence while promoting the "Vishwaguru" narrative.

"You spoke about 'Desh nahi jhukne doonga', but no proof is now required that you have belittled India's global standing and sovereignty. Our National interests is being surrendered on a daily basis. And you have the audacity to sugarcoat it with the “Vishwaguru” narrative," he said.

Kharge argued that India's influence on the global stage historically stemmed from its strategic autonomy and non-aligned approach.

"India used to be a “Vishwaguru” when it maintained its strategic autonomy and followed the policy of Non-Alignment. The world listened to us when all previous governments followed this consistent policy of not surrendering," he said.

The Congress chief further said that "Indian lives cannot be treated as an afterthought in matters of foreign policy" and demanded accountability from the government.

“At a time when serious questions remain unanswered, silence is not a substitute for accountability. The nation deserves clarity, and the families deserve justice," Kharge added.

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Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also slammed the Modi government over the issue.

"The Modi government's silence following the killing of three Indian sailors in a US attack is shameful. Instead of expressing regret or apologising for these killings, the US is resorting to the language of threats and commands. It is imperative to firmly convey to the US that India is a sovereign and independent nation capable of defending its sovereignty," Priyanka Gandhi said.

"Yet, our compromised Prime Minister is failing to protect both the citizens and the nation's sovereignty," she added.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed the criticism and said the Prime Minister's scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump had assumed added significance following the deaths of the Indian seafarers.

"The question that is uppermost on the minds of all Indian citizens is whether PM Modi will raise India’s strongest condemnation to the killing of three Indian sailors in a US attack on a ship off the Oman Coast," Ramesh said.

He also asked whether Modi would confront the US administration over what he described as the "threatening and really unacceptable language" allegedly used by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a recent conversation with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

According to Ramesh, a self-respecting nation must do more than issue routine statements when its sovereignty and citizens are at stake.

"Any self respecting nation will do more than mere phone calls and press statements to defend its sovereignty against bullies," he said.

The Congress leader also linked the controversy to the proposed India-US trade negotiations, noting that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to visit India to advance discussions on an interim trade agreement.

Ramesh alleged that the Modi government had made "enormous concessions" that could adversely affect Indian farmers and domestic industries. He further questioned why India had not reconsidered aspects of the proposed arrangement despite legal developments in the United States surrounding Trump's tariff policies.

The Centre has not officially responded to the Opposition's criticism.