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Let’s recall what Narendra Modi said on May 23, 2016 during his first visit to Iran: “Shakkar-Shikan Shavand Hame Bulbulane-azam/Je in qade-Hindi ki be-Tehran mee rasad.” This means: All the nightingales of Iran get this fresh sweet arriving in Tehran from India. Can Modi now hear the nightingales of Iran sobbing in grief as bodies of young naval officials return to Tehran from India?

The Iranian ship was returning after participating in an exercise in Visakhapatnam on Indian Navy’s invitation when an American submarine drowned it. The question is not whether India can be held responsible for this illegal attack. What will definitely bruise India’s image is the ominous silence of the Modi Government. Modi, who chose not to offer condolences to Iran on the murder of its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remained silent on this heinous crime in the Indian Ocean. India doesn’t have the tradition of treating her guests with such apathy. What would be Modi’s response if Pakistan bombed our guests just outside our territorial control? Will Modi choose to ignore the tragedy if over 100 American or Israeli soldiers are gunned down while returning from India?

Modi’s designation, doubtless, is the Prime Minister. But does he behave like the Prime Minister of India? Several recent incidents have given birth to this unusual query. Prime Ministers aren’t free to act on personal whims and fancies. They operate within an institutional framework; they are duty-bound to represent India’s constitutional majesty and socio-cultural traits. Iran is an old and trusted friend and no Indian Prime Minister enjoys any personal choice to violate that national obligation towards an ally.

The least Modi could have done was to express sorrow at Khamenei’s assassination and regret the killing of Iranian naval officials. This human courtesy doesn’t entail a revolt against Modi’s, not India’s, best friends – the United States and Israel. The institutional dignity of the office of the Prime Minister doesn’t allow any individual........

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