Jaishankar Briefs Parliament on West Asia Conflict

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday (March 9, 2026) made a statement in the Rajya Sabha about the steps taken by the Central government to help Indian citizens stranded in Gulf countries due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

During his statement, the minister explained that the government has been closely monitoring the situation and is working to ensure the safety of Indian nationals living in the affected regions. He said that the government has been coordinating with Indian embassies, local authorities, and other agencies to provide support and assistance to Indians who may need help returning home.

Mr. Jaishankar also spoke about India’s energy security. Since several Gulf countries are important suppliers of oil and gas to India, the government is carefully watching the situation to make sure that fuel supplies remain stable. He told the House that the government’s approach to the issue is guided by three main factors — protecting Indian citizens abroad, maintaining energy security, and ensuring stability in India’s economic interests.

However, the minister’s statement was interrupted by strong protests from Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha. Many Opposition leaders demanded a detailed discussion on the situation in West Asia and the government’s response. They raised slogans and urged the Chair to allow a debate in the House.

The Chairman, however, rejected their request for a discussion at that time. This led to louder protests from Opposition members.

Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister J. P. Nadda strongly criticised the Opposition for their behaviour. He accused them of disrupting the proceedings and said their actions were creating “anarchy” in the House. He also alleged that the Opposition was engaging in “hooliganism” instead of participating in a proper parliamentary discussion.

Similar scenes were seen in the Lok Sabha as well. The Lower House was briefly adjourned in the morning after obituary references were read out.

When the Lok Sabha reconvened, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was chairing the proceedings at the time, rejected several notices from Opposition members who wanted discussions on different issues.

Following this, Opposition members began shouting slogans and protesting inside the House. Despite the noisy scenes, Mr. Jaishankar delivered a similar statement in the Lok Sabha about the West Asia conflict and the government’s actions to help Indian citizens and protect the country’s interests.

The repeated disruptions in both Houses once again highlighted the tense political atmosphere in Parliament, with the ruling party and the Opposition clashing over demands for debates on important national and international issues.