“Need leadership, not cowardice”: Jaishankar delivers a speech as Opposition calls for a West Asia discussion to pose questions.

Following a demonstration within both Houses of Parliament during Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s speech on Monday, Congress-led Opposition MPs subsequently assembled outside and chanted demands for a comprehensive discussion on the US-Iran crisis that is spreading to West Asia.

Holding a large banner reading “Gulf burning, oil shock. Indians stranded. India needs leadership — not silence”, the protesting MPs included both Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively.

Many displayed signs in Hindi and English calling for “leadership, not cowardice,” reflecting the accusations made by the Congress against PM Narendra Modi’s foreign policy decisions, such as his visit to Israel shortly before the conflict started when the US and Israel bombed Iran on February 28. Congress MP KC Venugopal cited the growing cost of LPG as a clear example of how the West Asia issue has a major influence on India.

“We are demanding a discussion on the crisis. We are very firm on that. India is going to be affected in a very big way. An energy crisis is happening everywhere. Fuel prices are rising day by day. People are in distress. The government will have to come for a discussion. There are precedents in this House itself when such discussions have taken place,” Venugopal told reporters outside the House.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram sharply criticised the US and Israel’s actions. “This unprovoked attack by the United States on a sovereign nation is highly condemnable… And most importantly, innocent people are being killed,” he said, “Whatever the differences, whatever might be the security concerns, they must be sorted out through discussions, not through war.”

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh justified the walk-out by the opposition benches saying, “As expected the External Affairs Minister made a suo moto statement on the situation in the Rajya Sabha on which no questions can be asked or clarifications sought. The entire Opposition wanted an immediate discussion on the West Asian situation. This was denied and hence the Opposition walkout after protests.”

Earlier, loud protestors demanded a discussion or debate in which questions may be asked rather than a one-sided reading, which led to the adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings until 3 pm. However, during Jaishankar’s speech, the BJP-led NDA government accused the opposition benches of violating fundamental House ethics.

The foreign minister faced opposition in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, where he is a member, after making his remarks.As soon as Jaishankar stood up in the Lok Sabha to deliver his “suo moto statement” on the topic of “situation in West Asia,” opposition MPs began chanting anti-government slogans and calling for a full-fledged discussion rather than only a speech.

The opposition’s queries on their placards were being “elaborately answered” by the government, according to BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the proceedings as speaker Om Birla decided to abstain due to a no-confidence move against him.

Additionally, he pointed out that the Opposition was advocating for a notice to suspend all other hearings in order to address West Asia, even though a resolution pertaining to the motion against Om Birla was already on the agenda.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of violating House ethics after Jaishankar finished his remarks. Pal went on to say that once the House is in order, the no-confidence resolution will be discussed.

After this, the INDIA bloc MPs protested at the Makar Dwar of Parliament.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh justified the walk-out by the opposition benches saying, “As expected, the external affairs minister made a ‘suo moto statement’ on the situation in the Rajya Sabha on which no questions can be asked or clarifications sought. The entire Opposition wanted an immediate discussion on the West Asian situation. This was denied and hence the Opposition walkout after protests.”

In his statement, Jaishankar stated, among ther things, that “Prime Minister (Narendra Mpdi) continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses”. Jaishankar said the government had acted pre-emptively for its citizens in the region. “Our government had issued a statement on 20th February expressing deep concerns and urging all sides to exercise restraint. We continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate the tensions,” he further said.

Ahead of Jaishankar’s scheduled statement, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also demanded a comprehensive discussion instead.

“Oil has gone above $100 a barrel this morning. Gas is being completely stopped from coming out of Qatar. Our factories do not have gas coming into India right now from that side. We can get from the East. So we’ll try and get some supplies, but we are certainly suffering. Prices are going up. LPG prices went up by 60 rupees just the day before yesterday. And of course, petrol is going to cost more. So all of this is going to be a real problem for our country. And therefore, we need to have a very responsible approach and proactive approach from the government,” Tharoor told reporters.