Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said opposition parties assured full support to the government after an all-party meeting on the Middle East crisis, adding that ministers had answered all questions raised over the fallout of the Iran-Israel-US conflict and its impact on India.Speaking after the meeting in New Delhi, Rijiju said the government had convened the discussion to brief political parties on the evolving situation in Middle East and the steps being taken to protect Indian interests. “All the opposition parties have assured us that they will stand with the government in all the steps the government takes according to the situation,” Rijiju said, as quoted by news agency ANI.He said representatives from across the political spectrum attended and actively participated in the meeting, where leaders raised concerns over how the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States could affect India, especially Indian citizens, energy supplies and broader national interests. Rijiju said the government had responded “comprehensively and thoroughly” to the queries and added he was “satisfied” that all questions raised by opposition parties had been answered.
Government says concerns over fuel supply addressed
Rijiju said several members specifically sought details on gas and petroleum supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint amid the ongoing regional conflict. He said opposition leaders were informed that “India secured four ships already” and were satisfied with the government’s efforts to safeguard supplies.“From the government’s side, all the queries and all the confusion, whatever was there, all were clearly explained by the government,” Rijiju said. He also said opposition parties thanked the government for convening the meeting and expressed the need for all sides to stand together in a difficult situation.The minister linked the meeting’s outcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal in Parliament for political unity in the face of the crisis. Rijiju said the opposition had shown “maturity” by stating at the end of the meeting that it would support steps taken by the government in the national interest.
TMC skips meet; some opposition voices remain critical
Rijiju said all major parties attended except the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which, according to him, declined despite being requested twice. “Only the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was one party that didn’t participate,” he said, adding that TMC leaders cited travel commitments.However, not all opposition voices appeared fully satisfied after the briefing. AAP MP Sanjay Singh said his party raised concerns over panic among people over LPG availability and long queues for gas cylinders. He said the government responded that India produces 60 per cent of its LPG domestically and has oil reserves, adding that there would be no shortage of gas.Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar, meanwhile, described the meeting as “unsatisfactory” and reiterated the Opposition’s demand for a full debate in both Houses of Parliament under specific rules. He said merely stating that India does not want war was insufficient when the conflict was already underway.
High-level meeting amid widening Middle East war
The all-party meeting, chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, was attended by home minister Amit Shah, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, petroleum minister Hardeep Puri and foreign secretary Vikram Misri, among others.The meeting came after PM Modi told both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha earlier this week that the government’s top priority was protecting Indians at home and abroad amid the war. He said more than 3,75,000 Indians had been brought back since the conflict began, including over 1,000 from Iran, while warning that the fighting had triggered a serious global energy crisis and raised concerns over ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz carrying Indian crew members.
