3 months ago
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Veteran Congress person Ashok Gehlot connected Thursday (March 5, 2026) criticised the Centre for its “strategic silence” connected the U.S. submarine onslaught which sank the Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, adjacent Sri Lanka successful the Indian Ocean. Mr. Gehlot said India’s spot lies successful its autarkic voice, alternatively than successful “subservience to immoderate power”.
“India has ne'er compromised connected its sovereignty and policies nether unit from immoderate different country. In our ain maritime neighbourhood, the onslaught connected a vas which was a impermanent successful MILAN-2026 [in Visakhapatnam] and our soundlessness [on it] raises questions astir India’s credibility,” Mr. Gehlot said successful a station connected X.
Mr. Gehlot, the erstwhile Chief Minister of Rajasthan, affirmed that staying soundless connected the “arbitrary action” of the U.S. would spell against India’s taste ethos of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and subject pride. “Is the soundlessness of India, known arsenic the nett information supplier of Indian Ocean, a motion of diplomatic pressure?” helium asked.
An emerging superpower should not stay a mute spectator to specified convulsive incidents successful its ain region, Mr. Gehlot said. “If we are the existent protectors of Indian Ocean, we indispensable enactment our autonomy and information of our guests supra each else,” helium said.
The Congress person pointed retired that India had ne'er bowed to the unit of immoderate superpower, from Jawaharlal Nehru’s Non-Aligned Movement to Indira Gandhi’s fearless diplomacy.
He recalled the 2013 lawsuit of diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whose apprehension successful the U.S. connected charges of visa fraud and perjury had led to a large diplomatic standoff. The past Manmohan Singh authorities had responded with “tit for tat” by stripping the American diplomats of their privileges, Mr. Gehlot said.
