New Delhi: Congress’ Rahul Gandhi on Monday said Modi govt wants to avoid a discussion on West Asia crisis because it will lead to questions of how the “PM is being blackmailed”. His remark indicates that the Israel-US war against Iran is the fresh friction point between opposition and govt and will dog the Budget session.Opposition decided to demand a discussion on West Asia war, believing the global development is a subject that can be used to corner govt, given the growing perception that BJP has taken sides in the conflict.Rahul said the war is a “fight to change the paradigm” which, coupled with the US trade deal signed by Modi, will badly hurt Indian economy. “They don’t want to discuss this as it will lead to other issues. It will expose the PM’s position, the way he has compromised… the way he is being blackmailed,” he said, adding, “the PM ran away (from Parliament) and will not return. You watch.” Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav (SP), NK Premachandran (RSP), Sandosh Kumar (CPI), and those from TMC, DMK, IUML protested “govt’s silence” on the war.
