Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday demanded a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the ongoing West Asia conflict, pressing the government to clarify its foreign policy and alleging that India is acting under pressure from the United States. Addressing reporters outside Parliament, Yadav stressed that the government should explain its approach, particularly given the large number of Indians living and working in Gulf countries. He raised concerns about the safety of these citizens amid the escalating tensions.

He also highlighted that several journalists who accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent Israel visit are now stranded in the region, forced into covering the conflict as war correspondents. “A large number of Indians are stuck in Gulf countries. Journalists who went with the prime minister to Israel as political reporters are now functioning as war journalists. How will they return?” he asked.

Criticising the Centre’s foreign policy, Yadav alleged that India is following US directives rather than acting independently. “While we speak of becoming Atmanirbhar, we are simultaneously taking instructions from the US. It is dictating how much oil we can buy and for how long,” he said.

Urging a parliamentary debate, Yadav called on the government to clearly explain its stance on the West Asia conflict and India’s broader foreign policy. “There must be a discussion on these issues and the manner in which the government has managed its foreign policy,” he added. Yadav’s statements reflect growing political scrutiny over India’s approach to the conflict, with opposition parties pressing for transparency on the safety of Indians abroad and the country’s strategic decisions in the region.