Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi over silence on West Asia crisis, Lok Sabha stalled

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi addresses reporters at the Parliament complex in New Delhi on Monday as the first day of the second half of the Budget Session of the Parliament of India was disrupted in the Lok Sabha amid Opposition demands for a full discussion on the situation in West Asia

Opposition members raise the issue of the evolving situation in West Asia during proceedings in the Lok Sabha, leading to disruptions that resulted in the House being unable to function on the first day of the resumed Budget Session of the Parliament of India on Monday

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was avoiding Parliament because he was afraid that his position on the West Asia situation and alleged “compromise and blackmail” would come to light if a discussion took place

Responding to questions about the loss caused by the disruption of parliamentary proceedings, Rahul Gandhi said that the economic consequences of the developments in West Asia were more significant, arguing that the issue was central and needed urgent debate in Parliament

The Congress leader further said that a broader geopolitical shift was underway in West Asia and warned that it could lead to major economic consequences for India, pointing to recent stock market developments and suggesting that the country could face significant financial impact

During the interaction, Rahul Gandhi told reporters that issues such as fuel prices and the economic impact linked to developments in West Asia were important public concerns and insisted that Parliament should first debate these matters before taking up other issues

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a statement to Parliament, said India’s approach to the West Asia conflict is guided by three principles: promoting peace, ensuring civilian safety and the security of the Indian community, and protecting national interests such as energy security and commerce

After a statement by S. Jaishankar in Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of being irresponsible, saying the Opposition did not know what it wanted and was not following basic parliamentary decorum.

He further said the government was ready to act on a no-confidence motion against Om Birla as Speaker of the Lok Sabha and added that he had not seen an Opposition as irresponsible as the current one