New Delhi, March 8 With External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar set to make a statement in Parliament on the situation in West Asia, the Congress said on Sunday that the opposition wants a full-fledged debate on the matter, and recalled how a "spirited debate" was held in 2003 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, regarding the US invasion of Iraq.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that it has been conveyed that "the External Affairs Minister will make a statement in both Houses of Parliament regarding the situation in West Asia."
"The problem with such ministerial statements is that (i) they convey little of value beyond what is already known; and more importantly (ii) MPs are not given the opportunity to seek clarifications or ask questions," Ramesh said in a post on X.
What the opposition wants is a full-fledged debate, he said.
"On April 8, 2003, there was a spirited debate in the Lok Sabha on the US invasion of Iraq, and a resolution was even passed condemning it. This was when Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who knew his Rajdharma, was the PM," Ramesh said.
The second half of the Budget session of Parliament will begin on Monday.
According to the revised list of business of the Lok Sabha for March 9, circulated on Sunday evening, "Dr. S Jaishankar to make a statement regarding the situation in West Asia."
Until Saturday, the resolution backed by the opposition seeking the removal of Om Birla as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha was the only listed official agenda for Monday.
The opposition has demanded a discussion on the situation in West Asia in the House.
India is continuously monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia, especially in the context of the safety of its citizens stranded in the region.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that more than 52,000 Indians have returned to the country following the partial opening of the airspace across the region.
The security situation in West Asia remains precarious as the US and Israel continue their bombardment of Iranian targets while Tehran retaliates with strikes against Israeli positions and US military bases across the region.
