Jaishankar to Brief Indian Parliament on West Asia War as Budget Session Resumes Monday; Opposition Demands Discussion

India’s Parliament reconvenes on Monday under the shadow of a widening war in West Asia, with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar scheduled to brief the Lok Sabha on the fast-evolving war between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

According to the revised list of business circulated on Sunday evening, EAM Jaishankar will make an official statement in the Lower House on the situation in West Asia when the second half of the Budget Session begins. 

Sansad TV Screengrab of EAM Jaishankar by ANI

The announcement comes amid mounting concern in New Delhi over the safety of Indian nationals across the Gulf and wider West Asian region as military strikes and retaliatory missile attacks continue to escalate.

The Ministry of External Affairs earlier said the government has already facilitated the return of more than 52,000 Indians between March 1 and March 7 after partial reopening of regional airspace. Commercial and special flights have been operating to bring stranded travellers back home, with additional flights planned in the coming days. 

Indian diplomatic missions across the region have also activated 24-hour helplines and emergency control rooms to assist citizens affected by flight disruptions and security concerns.

The parliamentary briefing was added to Monday’s agenda at the last minute. Until Saturday, the only official business scheduled for the day was an opposition-backed resolution seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Opposition parties, however, are demanding more than a government statement. They have called for a full-fledged debate in Parliament on the war and its implications for India’s energy security, diaspora safety, and foreign policy posture.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh argued that ministerial statements often reveal little new information and do not allow MPs to ask questions or seek clarifications. He pointed to the precedent of April 2003, when Parliament held a detailed debate and passed a resolution condemning the US invasion of Iraq under then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The government, for its part, has maintained that it is closely monitoring developments as the conflict intensifies across the region, where millions of Indian workers live and where India sources a large share of its energy imports.

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