Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, continued his criticism of the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that even the Prime Minister would be unable to resolve the crisis caused by the war, as he relies on the US and Israel in shaping India’s policy decisions.
Meanwhile, addressing the Rajya Sabha on March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India must be prepared for the long-term consequences of the conflict, even as the government works to maintain steady energy supplies and keep inflation under control amid the West Asia crisis.
“The impact of this war could be prolonged, but I assure citizens that the government remains vigilant and is prioritizing the nation’s interests,” Modi said.
Reaching out to farmers, he added that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure the availability of fertilizers and assured them of the government’s full support in tackling any challenges.
Rahul Gandhi, however, criticised the Prime Minister’s handling of the crisis, calling it a “structural blunder” and alleging that the government was acting in line with the United States.
Reason behind Rahul Gandhi skipping the all-party meet
Amid mounting pressure from the Opposition, the Centre has convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the evolving situation in West Asia following the Iran–US conflict. The meeting is scheduled for 5 pm at the Parliament complex, sources said. However, Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to attend, as each party has been asked to nominate two representatives.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to chair the meeting, while Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is also likely to be present, according to reports.
Rahul Gandhi said he would be unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment in Kerala. “I won’t be able to attend as I have a programme in Kerala. The all-party meeting should go ahead, but a structural blunder has already been made, and it cannot be corrected – especially since the Prime Minister cannot fix it. He will follow what America says and not act in the interests of farmers and the country,” Gandhi said, as quoted by PTI.
In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also stressed that during such challenging times, Parliament must send out a united message, reiterating that peace and dialogue remain the only viable path to resolving the conflict.