Rahul Quotes Ex-Army Chief’s Book, Govt Objects; Lok Sabha Erupts
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, triggered sharp exchanges in Parliament on Monday after he began his speech by citing a magazine article based on an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, referring to the 2020 eastern Ladakh standoff with China.
Holding up a printout of the article, Rahul Gandhi sought to quote passages from the unpublished book, Four Stars of Destiny, in which General Naravane has reportedly reflected on the tense military face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The eastern Ladakh standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops near Pangong Lake, marking one of the most serious military confrontations between the two sides in decades.
However, Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to raise the issue was met with immediate resistance from the treasury benches. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh swiftly objected, stating that quoting from an unpublished book violated the established rules and conventions of the House. He asserted that such material could not be used as an authoritative reference in parliamentary proceedings.
The intervention did not end there. Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also joined in, reinforcing the objection and urging the Chair to disallow any discussion based on unpublished or unofficial material. They argued that parliamentary debates must rely on authenticated documents and official records, particularly on sensitive matters concerning national security and the armed forces.
Despite repeated interruptions, Rahul Gandhi made several attempts to draw attention to the contents of the article, insisting that issues related to the Ladakh standoff deserved greater transparency and discussion in Parliament. His remarks, however, were repeatedly ruled out, leading to heightened tension in the House.
The episode underscored the continuing political friction between the Opposition and the government over the handling of the China border situation. While the Opposition has consistently sought detailed explanations and accountability, the government has maintained that operational and strategic matters involving the military must be addressed with caution and responsibility, especially within the parliamentary framework.
