If we had the apologists for the US and the timid political leadership scared of the US military that we have now during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, think how they'd have responded when Nixon ordered the Seventh Fleet to threaten India. This regime would have folded up.
This ill-informed tweet by Vishnu Som (I am blocked by him) offers weak excuses that downplay the killing of Indian seafarers while justifying U.S. escalation. As a Veteran Naval officer and serving Merchant Navy captain with considerable experience in International waters, here is my Point-by-point response to his tweet:
- “Active conflict zone”
The Strait of Hormuz is international waters under UNCLOS (Articles 87 & 58). Freedom of navigation for neutral merchant vessels remains protected. “Conflict zone” does not authorise lethal strikes on civilians.
- “Armed naval blockade”
A lawful belligerent blockade under the San Remo Manual demands necessity and proportionality, effective notification, and minimal civilian harm. ‘Precision strikes’ killing Indian crew on neutral-flagged tankers exceed law enforcement and violate international humanitarian law. The Shipping Company claims no warning was given by the US Forces. This incident needs a neutral investigation to fix responsibility.
-“Ships chose to evade the blockade”
Merchant ships have every right to transit international waters. Blaming civilian crews (including Indians) for economic decisions ignores India’s duty to protect its nationals. This is victim-blaming, not analysis.
-“Switched off AIS”
Captains of ships may deactivate AIS for safety/security in high-threat areas (per IMO guidelines), with proper log entries. This does not justify immediate lethal force. Graduated responses like warnings and visit-and-search are the international standard for all Navies.
-“Foreign-flagged vessels”
The Flag state is irrelevant to India’s responsibility for its citizens. Three Indian sailors (cadet Aditya Sharma, fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, chief engineer Patnala Suresh) died on MT Settebello alone. We cannot abandon 100,000+ Indian seafarers on global ships.
Bottom Line is India is not a party to this U.S.-Iran conflict. Our priorities should be seafarer safety, energy security, and freedom of navigation; principles the U.S. champions elsewhere. The government and responsible Journalists must demand accountability, compensation, transparent Rules of Engagement, and stronger protection for Indian mariners.
#Shocking!!
US fired on a stationary Indian ship which has 24 Indian crew members!
& they attacked the ship, destroying even its lifeboats! All 24 crew members had to be airlifted!
This is an act of terrorism, hitting someone without any provocation is nothing but unleashing terror!!
Absolutely brutal!
Deafening silence of the Modi govt on this state terror is mind numbing!!
Remember? When Manmohan Singh had removed security from the US Embassy for just misbehaving with one Indian official??
And now? Under 56 vishwaguru?
Govt -silent
Godi media -silent
WhatsApp University -silent
BJP IT Cell -silent
Modified RW -silent
Hall of Shame!
What this guy did was not corruption. It was treason.
If this had happened in the Soviet Union, he would have been summarily executed.
If it had happened in the US, there would have been a trial and he would have been executed
In India, he will take another GST in the name of his brother in law and bid again for the same tender
I guess the theory that India's biggest enemy is Indians themselves, keeps proving true again and again and again
https://t.co/vRAIotboDt
Congratulations to All Indians.
Now we can also feel somewhat close to what our ancestors must have felt after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
This helplessness is stunning. We are not a Warrior Race.
@sandipsabharwal Govt should introduce a law that civic sense should be taught from the LKG to all school college classes with practical along with grace mark, otherwise no use of education, developed country people look our country as a garbage dumping place, we should change
The US Navy attacked a third ship with Indian crew even after the MEA had summoned the US CdA in Delhi and conveyed its concern over the killings. Tells you of how seriously the US takes Indian concerns and how ineffective the Modi govt is, with such gestures.
US Navy could have disabled the tanker in multiple ways. But they chose to fire two hellfire missiles straight into the engine room which had the Indian crew. Cold Blooded Murder. Now, they are also advertising it.
Chinese have been using the shadow fleet to transport oil for years, but not once their ships have come under attack.
So spare us this sanctioned fleet rhetoric. 🙃🙃🙃
Try and go through atleast one concall a day
Listening to companies across sectors really opens up a world of opportunities.
This done over a longer time frame of a few years helps build ability to understand cycles of different sectors.
US confirms strikes on MT Jalveer, citing reason, “It attempted to transport oil from Iran through the gulf of Oman.”
“A US aircraft fired two hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room after crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from US force.”
First, Iranian sailors were killed in your water, and you stayed silent, saying it wasn’t your men.
Now, your own sailors have been killed in Iranian water, and you may stay silent again, saying it wasn’t our waters.
A strong govt protects its people wherever they are. A weak government looks for excuses.
Using agencies like ED and CBI to instill fear is easy amongst your own citizens. Showing courage when citizens are harmed is what truly tests leadership.
Who is the US to sanction vessels? Is India a colony? Where is our navy that was supposed to be escorting merchant vessels bound for India? Maybe the next Mann Ke Baat will discuss how if someone slaps u once we should offer the other cheek too .
So the MEA now seems to be justifying these US attacks as enforcement actions against sanctioned/non compliant vessels rather than unprovoked attacks on India’s interests? Amazing!