Opposition Leaders Rally in Parliament Demanding Action on West Asia Crisis

In a significant protest within the Parliament House, opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, demanded urgent discussions on the West Asia conflict. They criticized the government for its silence on critical issues and called for a comprehensive strategy to address the geopolitical crisis. The protest highlighted concerns over energy security and the impact on Indian citizens, with MPs raising slogans and displaying banners to emphasize their demands for leadership and action. This rally reflects the growing urgency among opposition parties to address pressing national and international issues.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 9, 2026, 13:22 IST

Protest by Opposition MPs in Parliament

New Delhi: A group of opposition lawmakers, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party leader Rahul Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, organized a protest within the Parliament House complex on Monday. They called for a discussion regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia and criticized the government for its perceived inaction on significant issues surrounding the situation.

Prior to the protest, leaders from various opposition parties convened in Kharge's office to strategize for the latter part of the Budget session.

The meeting included notable figures such as Ram Gopal Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, Dayanidhi Maran from the DMK, Supriya Sule from the NCP (SP), and Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena (UBT).

Kharge expressed on social media platform X, stating, "As Parliament resumes for the second half of the Budget session, the US-Israel conflict with Iran has implications for us. It is crucial to engage in a comprehensive discussion regarding the ongoing geopolitical crisis."

He further emphasized that a unilateral statement from the External Affairs Minister is insufficient. Kharge insisted that the government must provide a detailed contingency plan to safeguard energy security, support traders, diversify export supply chains, and prevent price increases affecting citizens. He urged the government to be more considerate towards the populace.

Following the meeting, opposition MPs gathered near the Makar Dwar of Parliament, reiterating their demand for a dialogue on the West Asia conflict and condemning the government's silence on pressing matters.

Displaying a large banner that read, "Gulf burning, oil shock. Indians stranded. India needs leadership — not silence," the MPs chanted slogans against the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prominent participants in the protest included Kharge, Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and TMC's Sagarika Ghose.