Shashi Tharoor has criticised the government for allowing only a statement on West Asia in Parliament without a debate, arguing MPs should have been able to question and discuss India’s response to the crisis. Tharoor told reporters that “just reading a statement without any opportunity to raise any questions is not fair to the members of the House,” and said the Congress was “agitating for… an opportunity to have a discussion on the issue.” He added that “the government should at least use Parliament to hear the views of a cross‑section of the nation” on a conflict that has major consequences for India’s diaspora, energy security and trade.