New Delhi, March 9 Opposition MPs, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Monday, demanding a discussion on the West Asia conflict and criticizing the government for its "silence" on critical issues related to it.
Earlier, floor leaders of opposition parties met in the chamber of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge, in the Parliament House complex to deliberate on the strategy for the second half of the Budget session.
Besides Kharge and Gandhi, leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Ram Gopal Yadav, DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, among others, attended the meeting.
In a post on X, Kharge said, "As the Parliament reconvenes for the second part of the Budget session, the US-Israel war with Iran has reached our doorstep. In this context, it is imperative to have a comprehensive discussion on the current geopolitical crisis."
"A one-sided statement by the EAM is not a solution. We need to collectively bring the nation into confidence. The GOI must come up with a detailed contingency plan to ensure our energy security, assist our traders, diversify supply chains for our exports, and prevent penalizing our people with price hikes. The Opposition demands sensitivity towards our people," Kharge said after the meeting.
Later, opposition MPs staged a protest near the Makar Dwar of Parliament, demanding a discussion on the West Asia conflict and criticizing the government for its "silence" on critical issues related to it.
With a large banner that read, "Gulf burning, oil shock. Indians stranded. India needs leadership – not silence," the MPs raised slogans against the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kharge, Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, TMC's Sagarika Ghose, among others, participated in the protest.
