West Asia dominates Lok Sabha; resolution on Speaker’s removal not taken up

As the Budget Session resumed, the Lok Sabha on Monday (March 9, 2026) failed to take up a resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla amid repeated adjournments as the Opposition insisted on a full-fledged discussion on the West Asia crisis and its impact on nearly 10 million Indians living in the region.

Parliament Budget session highlights

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju termed the Opposition parties “ïrresponsible”, while the Chair accused them of holding the House proceedings “hostage” to their demands. The House was adjourned for the day shortly after it reassembled at 3 p.m. following two earlier adjournments.

Sources indicated that the government is unlikely to accept the Opposition’s demand as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had already made a suo motu statement on the issue in both Houses. In the Lok Sabha, Mr. Jaishankar spoke amid continuous sloganeering by Opposition members.

The government is keen to first take up the debate on the resolution seeking the removal of the Speaker. Home Minister Amit Shah and Mr. Rijiju are likely to speak on the issue, while the Congress plans to field senior members, including Deputy Leader of the party in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari.

“Irresponsible Opposition”

“I have never seen such an irresponsible Opposition Party in my Life! This Opposition doesn’t understand the basic ethics of this House, the rules of this House and the values of the Constitution,” Mr. Rijiju said in the House.

However, the Opposition has shown no signs of relenting, demanding a comprehensive discussion on West Asia and energy security in view of the ongoing war in the region.

Opposition parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) are scheduled to meet on Tuesday morning to decide their next course of action. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday evening signalled a more aggressive stance.

Rahul slams Modi

“The fight [in West Asia] is an attempt to create a paradigm shift. Our economy is going to face major losses, and you have seen what has happened in the stock markets. [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi ji has signed the U.S. [trade] deal, and the country is going to face a massive hit,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters within the Parliament complex.

Mr. Gandhi questioned the government’s reluctance to discuss the West Asia crisis before taking up the resolution seeking the Speaker’s removal.

“Is the West Asia issue not essential? Are fuel prices and economic devastation not important issues? These are people’s issues, and we consider them important and want a discussion. But the government doesn’t want to do (a debate) because other things will come out. Questions will be asked about the Prime Minister’s position and how he is being blackmailed. That’s why they don’t want to discuss”.

As soon as the Lok Sabha proceedings began, the House witnessed repeated adjournments with Opposition MPs raising slogans. Jagadambika Pal, who was chairing the proceedings, accused them of wasting taxpayers’ money—about ₹9 crore per day—by holding the House “hostage” to their demands.

Mr. Pal described the Opposition’s behaviour as “immature and irresponsible” and alleged that it was working with a “political agenda” to disrupt proceedings by preventing the House from taking up the resolution against Mr. Birla.

The issue of taking up the West Asia crisis first was discussed at a meeting of senior leaders of the INDIA bloc on Monday morning at Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge’s office in Parliament. Ahead of the start of proceedings, INDIA bloc MPs also protested outside the main entrance to the Parliament.