India needs steady hand at the wheel but has 'compromised PM': Rahul Gandhi

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 ldquocompromised PMrdquo who has surrendered the countryrsquos strategic autonomy at a time of growing geopolitical instabilityIn 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 environmentThe world has entered a volatile phase Stormy seas lie aheadIndiarsquos oil supplies are under threat with more than 4037 of our imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz The situation is even worse for LPG and LNGThe conflict has reached our backyard with an Iranian warshiphellipmdash Rahul Gandhi RahulGandhi March 5 2026Rahul Gandhi flags risks to Indiarsquos energy securityGandhi highlighted concerns over Indiarsquos energy supply chain noting that the countryrsquos oil imports could be severely affected if tensions continue to escalate in West Asia According to him more than 40 per cent of Indiarsquos oil imports pass through the strategically crucial Strait of HormuzldquoThe world has entered a volatile phase and stormy seas lie aheadrdquo Gandhi wrote warning that disruptions in the region could have major implications for Indiarsquos economy and energy securityHe 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 regionCongress leader criticises PMrsquos silence on regional developmentsThe Congress leader further criticised Modi for not publicly commenting on recent developments related to the conflict claiming that the crisis had already reached Indiarsquos strategic neighbourhoodldquoThe conflict has reached our backyard with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean Yet the Prime Minister has said nothingrdquo Gandhi said suggesting that India required clear leadership and a decisive diplomatic response in such circumstancesldquoAt a moment like this India needs a steady hand at the wheel Instead India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomyrdquo he allegedIranian warship sinking escalates regional tensionsGandhirsquos 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 exerciseConfirming 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 torpedoAccording 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 rescuedThe 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 NavyConflict between US Israel and Iran intensifiesThe latest developments come in the wake of military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28 which reportedly killed Iranrsquos Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiFollowing 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 ArabiaIn recent days the situation has intensified with multiple rounds of attacks and counterattacks between the rival sides raising fears of a wider regional conflictIndia calls for dialogue and diplomacyAmid the escalating tensions India has maintained that the crisis should be resolved through diplomatic engagement and dialogue rather than military confrontationNew Delhi has consistently urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution to prevent further destabilisation in the region