A major political controversy unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Monday after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi referred to an unpublished “memoir” of former Army chief General MM Naravane while speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. His remarks, linked to the 2020 India-China military standoff, sparked strong objections from the treasury benches and led to repeated disruptions in the House.
Gandhi sought to quote from what he described as Naravane’s memoir to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over their handling of the border crisis. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla disallowed the reference, stating that unpublished material or newspaper clippings unrelated to House proceedings cannot be cited.
Speaker’s Ruling and Government’s Strong Objection
Despite the Speaker’s ruling, Gandhi persisted, prompting protests from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah. Both questioned the authenticity of the material and asked whether the book had been officially published.
The Speaker repeatedly urged Gandhi to adhere to parliamentary rules, warning him against quoting the alleged memoir. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju later said continued defiance of the Speaker’s ruling could force the House to consider disciplinary action.
Government leaders accused Gandhi of misleading Parliament and undermining its dignity. The BJP also alleged that his remarks could hurt the morale of the armed forces.
Gandhi Defends Himself, Calls It a National Security Issue
Speaking to reporters outside the House, Gandhi claimed he was being prevented from speaking because the contents of the book allegedly expose the government’s role during the 2020 conflict with China.
He maintained that he was quoting from a magazine article that had cited the former Army chief’s unpublished account. According to Gandhi, the issue was directly linked to national security and therefore deserved discussion in Parliament.
“If there was nothing uncomfortable, they would have allowed me to speak,” Gandhi said, insisting that the remarks were based on the words of a former Army chief.
Opposition Rallies Behind Rahul Gandhi
Several opposition leaders came out in support of Gandhi. Leaders from the Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Samajwadi Party backed his stand, arguing that Parliament should allow debate on issues related to national security.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also joined the attack, questioning why the government appeared rattled by references to the former Army chief’s account. In a post on social media, he accused the BJP of avoiding serious questions and termed its nationalism “hollow.”
BJP Hits Back, Accuses Gandhi of Misleading Parliament
The ruling BJP responded sharply, accusing Gandhi of speaking the language of “anti-India elements.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pointed out that if the book had indeed been suppressed, the former Army chief could have challenged it legally.
Government sources dismissed Gandhi’s claims as “concocted,” stating that India’s decisions during the China conflict were taken with full responsibility and transparency.
Repeated Adjournments Amid Heated Exchanges
The confrontation led to chaos in the House, which was adjourned twice before being adjourned for the day. When proceedings resumed later, Gandhi again attempted to raise the matter, calling it a serious concern linked to national security.
However, the Speaker stood firm on his ruling, reiterating that the material could not be quoted under parliamentary norms.
A Controversy Far From Over
The episode has once again highlighted the deep political divide between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, especially on matters related to national security and China. While the government insists on adherence to parliamentary rules, the opposition argues that uncomfortable questions are being silenced.
With strong reactions on and off the floor of Parliament, the controversy surrounding the alleged unpublished memoir and the 2020 India-China clash is likely to continue dominating political discourse in the days ahead.