Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Sanjay Raut criticised the central government led by Narendra Modi for remaining silent after reports of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death. While speaking with media reporters during a press conference on March 2, he said that when such a supreme leader is assassinated, India should express grief and the Prime Minister should openly show their condolences. He further questioned if the central government led by PM Narendra Modi is afraid of Israel or US President Donald Trump. Iranian state media reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in coordinated airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, which also took the lives of his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild.
Speaking with the reporters, Sanjay Raut said, “This is a very serious matter. Ayatollah Khamenei was a personality recognized by the entire world, except Israel. He was a true friend of India and always stood by India during times of crisis—whether it was the India-Pakistan war or the Kashmir issue." He further questioned silence of the Modi-Government and said, "I would say that when such a leader is assassinated, India should express mourning and grief. The President of India and the Prime Minister of India should publicly show their condolences. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of Israel? Or are you afraid of President Trump?"
Apart from Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, on March 1, slammed the Narendra Modi-led central government for its silence following reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a post on her official X account, Chaturvedi questioned why not even a single tweet had been issued to acknowledge the passing of one of the Middle East’s most influential religious and political figures. She emphasized that, given India’s status as a sovereign nation with longstanding diplomatic ties to Iran, the government should have publicly expressed condolences instead of remaining completely silent on this significant development.
Reacting to the news, US President Donald Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history” and highlighted his death. The strikes have sent shockwaves across the region, sharply heightening tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv, while drawing intense global attention to the potential geopolitical ramifications of eliminating such a prominent figure in the Middle East.