Parliament budget session highlights: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned after chaos over discussion on West Asia

Parliament budget session LIVE: Speaking about the West Asia conflict, Congress MP Kumari Selja told news agency ANI, "A very big problem has arisen which is affecting the world and our country. Whatever is happening in the neighbourhood and West Asia, the Foreign Minister comes and gives a statement and leaves. The country wants to know what is happening. This should be brought up for discussion in the House. The government should have taken the initiative, but it has not taken any initiative. We said that there should be a discussion on this..."

Parliament budget session LIVE: BJP MP Tapir Gao, while talking about incidents of racial attacks on people from Northeast India in Delhi, told news agency ANI, "People from the northeastern states are not secure in Delhi. Not only in Delhi, but people from the northeast are also facing racial discrimination, fights and killings in all metropolitan cities across the country. So, we will raise the issue in Zero Hour of the Parliament...Govt of India should bring in Atrocity Act to prevent such activities against northeast citizens. This is a huge issue; we will take this up in Parliament. We will also meet the Home Minister over this. There should be a secure law for the northeastern states..."

Parliament budget session LIVE: After the lower house of the Parliament was adjourned, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the West Asia conflict will lead to huge financial losses.

"What’s happening in West Asia will lead to a huge financial loss.. A battle is underway to shift the global paradigm, and this is going to cause a major loss to our economy. You’ve seen the stock market, so the country will suffer a big blow. So, what is the problem with discussing it?” he said.

Parliament budget session LIVE: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after Opposition continued to protest to demand a discussion on the West Asia conflict.

Parliament budget session LIVE: Lok Sabha erupts in chaos as Opposition demands discussion on West Asia conflict

Parliament budget session LIVE: Lok Sabha resumes

Parliament budget session LIVE: BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also spoke on the opposition parties' no confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and said, “There are no rules, no propriety, and no standards being followed. You have brought a no-confidence motion against Om Birla, which rarely happens. The Speaker, showing complete dignity, even accepted a flawed proposal. There was no legal requirement for it, yet he is not presiding over the House today."

"In simple terms, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, there is no concern for the dignity of Parliament, no regard for the traditions of the House, and no respect for the office of the Speaker. They talk about the Constitution, but are they making a mockery of the country? They are already making a mockery of their own party. Their party is declining. I would also say to opposition leaders that they should stop following Rahul Gandhi and instead try to build their own space,” he added, as per ANI.

(ANI)

Parliament budget session LIVE: JD(U)’s Lalan Singh spoke on the opposition parties' no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and said, “The House does not function as per one’s wishes, but in accordance with the democratic rules of the House.”

(ANI)

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan spoke to reporters about the EAM's speech in Parliament about the West Asia conflict and said, "They are dodging the issue. We have proposed a discussion in both Houses. The country's foreign policy is failing. Given the kind of statements coming from Trump, what is our government's stand? Many of our people are stuck abroad... 55% of India's energy comes from outside--what solution will you come up with for that? Under whose pressure are you making these statements, trying to evade?"

(ANI)

Parliament budget session LIVE: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also spoke out against EAM S Jaishankar's statement in Parliament on the West Asia conflict, and said, "...Just reading a statement without any opportunity to raise any questions is not fair to the members of the House. This is the principal issue here. What the party was agitating for was to have an opportunity to have a discussion on the issue...The govt should at least use Parliament to hear the views of a cross-section of the nation."

(ANI)

Parliament budget session LIVE: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is holding a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Parliament, reported news agency ANI.

More details are awaited shortly.

(ANI)

Parliament budget session LIVE: On EAM S Jaishankar's statement in Parliament on the West Asia conflict, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi spoke to ANI and said, "If you come to Parliament today to give a statement, you should also answer the Opposition's questions. You are not taking any questions, so we walked out."

(ANI)

Parliament news LIVE: Congress leader Dr Syed Naseer Hussain said that there is no benefit of a statement issued by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, as the opposition will be unable to ask any questions.

"We wanted a short duration discussion on West Asia crisis and the energy crisis arising out of it....It appears the US President has become our boss, telling us who to buy oil from. Why did such a situation arise?... We want a discussion on India's foreign policy, protection against the energy crisis, safety of Indians...There is no benefit of issuing a statement as we cannot ask any questions from the govt. Why does the govt run away from the discussion?..." he told news agency ANI.

Parliament budget session LIVE: EAM S Jaishankar in his speech about the ongoing conflict in West Asia also spoke about the energy supply chain disruption, and said “The region is key to our energy security and includes many important suppliers of oil and gas…Serious supply chain disruptions and climate of instability that we perceive are serious issues…For us, the interests of the Indian consumer has and will always be the overriding priority.”

Parliament budget session LIVE: EAM S Jaishankar in his speech about the ongoing conflict in West Asia said that it is imperative that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected.

“This ongoing conflict is an issue of particular concern for India… we have obvious stakes that West Asia remain stable and peaceful…There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf nations,” he said

Parliament budget session LIVE: BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi spoke about the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and said he is very popular among all MPs, adding that she appreciates his patience, composure and capability.

"We would like to say very firmly and very clearly that during the 17th Lok Sabha, the productivity of the House was 97 per cent. There were also seven sessions during his tenure where productivity was nearly 100 per cent. During his tenure, many important Bills were passed in the country and in the Lok Sabha…All of this certainly reflects his capability and competence,” she stated.

(PTI)

Parliament budget session LIVE: Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav spoke to reporters outside the parliament complex and said, "...The US is dictating whom we should buy oil from. There should be a discussion in Parliament on India's foreign policy."

Opposition parties are also likely to raise concerns over the interim India–US trade deal. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has termed the agreement “anti-farmer” and accused the government of compromising India’s sovereign interests, Hindustan Times had earlier reported.

Parliament budget session LIVE: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will initiate the discussion in the Lok Sabha on Monday on the Opposition’s resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. The motion, signed by 118 Opposition MPs, accuses the Speaker of “partisan behaviour,” including allegedly not allowing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak in the House.

Several leaders, including BJP MPs Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Bhartruhari Mahtab, along with LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, are expected to participate in the debate, news agency ANI reported. Rijiju criticised the Congress for bringing the motion, saying it was moved “without any reason” and only to satisfy “one man's stubbornness,” adding that the BJP was ready to respond in the House and the proposal would “have to face defeat.”

(ANI)

Parliament budget session LIVE: Amid massive sloganeering by Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha, the Speaker has adjourned the proceedings till 3 pm.

Parliament budget session LIVE: Opposition MPs, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, staged a protest in Parliament House complex on Monday, demanding a discussion on the West Asia conflict and slamming the government for its "silence" on critical issues related to it.

Earlier, opposition parties' floor leaders met in Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Kharge's chamber in Parliament House complex to deliberate on the strategy for the second half of the Budget session.

Besides Kharge and Gandhi, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, among others, attended the meeting.

Parliament budget session LIVE: External affairs minister S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Addressing the House regarding the situation in West Asia, Jaishankar confirmed that the government has issued formal advisories to Indian nationals residing in Iran and added that the safety of citizens remains the administration's primary concern.

"The Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses," Jaishankar said.

Parliament budget session LIVE: External affairs minister Jaishankar said that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued amid the US-Iran conflict erupting in West Asia.

He made the statement while addressing the lower house of the Parliament on Monday.

Parliament budget session LIVE: Opposition MPs surrounded the Lok Sabha well as loud chants interrupted external affairs minister S Jaishankar's address in the Lok Sabha on the West Asia conflict.

Parliament budget session LIVE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has begun his address in the Lok Sabha regarding the West Asia conflict and India's stance on the crisis.