‘Unacceptable cowardice’: Indians slam Modi govt’s silence over US attack on Iranian ship

Social media has been abuzz with condemnations of the US attack on an Iranian frigate in international waters after taking part in a naval drill in India, with netizens slamming the Indian government’s silence over the terrorist act.

The leader of India’s main opposition party has slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for “reckless abdication of India’s strategic & national interests,” amid the American-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress, in a Thursday post on X, formerly Twitter, said there has been no statement of concern or condolence from the BJP-led Indian government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the US attack on an Iranian ship that was returning home after taking part in a naval exercise in India.

“An Iranian ship, a guest of India was returning, unarmed from the International Fleet Review 2026, hosted by us, and was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). No statement of concern or condolence. PM Modi remains mute,” Kharge wrote.

“Why lecture us on the doctrines of MAHASAGAR and India being a ‘Net Security Provider’ in the IOR, when you can’t react on what is happening in your own backyard.”

Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying 130 Iranian sailors, was hit by US forces in international waters without any warning on Wednesday. Many casualties are feared.

Rajdeep Sardesai, a senior Indian journalist, also questioned the Indian government’s silence over the US attack on an Iranian warship.

“An Iranian warship conducts a naval exercise with our Navy on our coastline just days ago with President of India in attendance. Leaves for home and is torpedoed by an American missile in the Indian Ocean not far away from our waters, leaving over 80 dead, many injured,” he wrote on X.

“The ship was not engaged in any war-like activity when attacked . We don’t have any LEGAL responsibility but MORAL responsibility surely! Will we tell the Americans that they have crossed a line here.”

Supriya Shrinate, a senior member of the Congress party and social media influencer, said the “cowardice” on the part of the government and ruling party is “unacceptable.”

“These Iranian navy men parading at an event in India were our guests. Invited by us US submarine targeted their ship and killed them while they were returning home. But not a squeak from PM Modi. This cowardice is unacceptable,” she wrote.

Amit Mayank, a social media user, shared a conversation of Indian ambassador in New Delhi speaking to mediapersons following the US attack on an Iranian vessel.

“Are you in touch with the Indian side? Iran Ambassador to India — No. We have no word, no message. Journalist — Why no communication? Iran Amb — You can ask them,” he wrote.

“Iranian ship was India’s Guest. Yet not a single word from Modi Govt. This is new age slavery by Modi.”

India-based strategic affairs analyst Brahma Chellaney said the United States had “effectively turned India’s maritime neighbourhood into a war zone, raising uncomfortable questions about India’s authority in its own backyard”.

Prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan also said the Iranian frigate that was torpedoed off India’s coast by the US submarine was in Visakhapatnam for the International Fleet Review 2026, on India’s invitation.

“No condemnation of this or the murder of Iran’s leader by the Modi govt, shows that Modi has become a puppet of USA & Israel,” he wrote in a post on X.

“India is paying a heavy price for Modi’s cowardice & possible blackmail.”

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed that the United States will “bitterly regret” sinking Iran’s Frigate Dena in international waters, which led to the killing of dozens of sailors.

The attack occurred hundreds of miles across the Indian Ocean - off the southern coast of Sri Lanka - away from the Persian Gulf, where a US-Israeli military coalition has been striking Iran in an unprovoked war of aggression since Saturday.

“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning. Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set,” Araghchi wrote in a post on X on Thursday.

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