The first day of the second half of the Budget session began with heated exchanges as opposition members demanded a discussion on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, and Lok Sabha was adjourned without taking up the no confidence motion against speaker Om Birla. Outside the House, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “run away”. Inside the House heated exchanges were seen as the treasury benches accused the opposition of being “irresponsible” for not beginning the discussion on the no confidence motion against Birla and demanding a discussion on West Asia instead.Before the House proceedings began, opposition members were seen standing with placards at the parliament premises, shouting slogans “Narendra Modi shame shame” and questioning the prime minister’s silence on the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In Rajya Sabha, leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge submitted a notice under Rule 176 for a short duration discussion on the emerging challenges for India’s energy crisis amid the US-Israel war on Iran. As Kharge stood to justify the need for a discussion under Rule 176, treasury benches raised protests.“The rapidly changing geopolitical situation in West Asia is no longer confined to that region alone; rather, it is also impacting India’s energy security. At the same time, it is affecting India’s credibility and image as well. India meets approximately 55% of its crude oil needs from West Asia. An escalation in conflict will have a direct impact on our country’s economic stability as well,” said Kharge.“Around 1 crore Indians work in West Asia, whose safety and livelihood also depend on the stability there. Recent events have reported the deaths of some Indian citizens, and many are missing. India receives remittances of about $51 billion every year from Gulf countries. There has been an increase of Rs 60 in the price of domestic cooking gas and Rs 115 in the price of commercial gas cylinders,” he added.Amid loud protests from the treasury benches Kharge pointed out that he was “justifying why a discussion under Rule 176 was necessary” while Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan said that he would come back to Kharge, and allowed Union external affairs minister S. Jaishankar to make his suo moto statement on the crisis in West Asia. During Jaishankar’s statement, opposition members raised protests demanding a discussion on the West Asia conflict, and then staged a walkout.In the Lok Sabha, the house was adjourned first till 12 noon when Jaishankar delivered his statement amid protests from opposition benches demanding a discussion in the House. Opposition members were seen with placards in the well of the House during the minister’s statement. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagadambika Pal, who was presiding over the proceedings of the House said that the no confidence motion against Birla should be taken up but opposition members demanded a discussion on the conflict in West Asia.Amid the uproar, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition of being irresponsible and not following the ethics of the house.“First they brought a no confidence motion against the Speaker, then when that was accepted they gave another notice for a different discussion. When we are ready for a discussion on the Speaker, what is the point of bringing another notice? The foreign minister gave a detailed statement but you don’t listen,” said Rijiju.“I’ve never seen such an irresponsible opposition Party in my Life. They don’t understand the basic ethics of the house, the rules of the House. The country has a constitution, and this house has rules. We are ready to discuss the resolution brought against the Speaker, start the discussion,” he added. Amid the uproar the House was adjourned till 3 pm. When proceedings began at 3pm, Pal said that the House was ready to take up the motion against Birla but opposition members demanded a discussion on the conflict in West Asia, and raised protests demanding that Gandhi be allowed to speak.Pal then accused the opposition of being “immature” and said that they are wasting taxpayers money. He said Rs 2.5 lakh per minute, Rs 1.5 crore for an hour and around Rs 9 crore per day was being wasted due to the opposition and then adjourned the House for the day.Outside parliament, Gandhi said that Modi had run away from the House and the government did not want a discussion on West Asia as the prime minister’s “compromise” would be revealed.“What about the ongoing conflict in West Asia? How many losses is that resulting in? Our economy is going to be hurt, you can see the stock market. Modi has signed the US deal. What is the issue in having a discussion on this? This is what we are demanding. We can hold discussions on other things including the speaker after that,” he said.Gandhi added: “Is the West Asia conflict not necessary for a discussion? They don’t want a discussion because other questions will come up including how the Prime Minister made a compromise and how he was blackmailed. You saw how the Prime Minister ran away from the parliament house.”