Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a firm stand over the recent deaths of three Indian seafarers in the Gulf of Oman during his proposed meeting with US President Donald Trump in France on Wednesday.
In a direct appeal shared on X, Kejriwal said, “Today you are meeting Trump in France. Pl convey our strong protest and anger over his killing three Indians. Show courage to stand up to Trump. You did not post a single tweet, nor did you pray for the departed souls,” he wrote.
“India needs a strong PM. Pl show courage today,” he said.
His remarks comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns over the tragic deaths of Indian seafarers in a recent US military strike during his address to G7 leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who was seated beside him.
“We welcome the progress made in peace efforts in West Asia. This conflict has caused loss of life and property in our friendly countries in the region. Disruptions to maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz have adversely affected the global economy,” PM Modi stated.
Underscoring India’s commitment to the global seafaring community, he added, “Several Indian civilians have also lost their lives. The safety of seafarers, who connect nations through global maritime trade, is our responsibility.”
The vessel operated with a 28-member crew consisting of 24 Indians, two Pakistanis, one Ukrainian and one Russian, and was intercepted and struck by the US military over an alleged violation of a US blockade while reportedly transporting oil from Iran.
The highly anticipated bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Donald Trump is on the cards for today.
According to sources, both countries are keen on building a long-term energy partnership, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in the energy sector amid concerns over disruptions to global supply chains caused by tensions in West Asia.
Sources said the proposed India-US trade deal is in its final stages, with negotiations progressing steadily and work on the agreement expected to be completed in the coming weeks.