Book isn’t published: Ex-Army Chief Naravane echoes Penguin

Former Army Chief MM Naravane on Tuesday shared on X a statement issued by the publisher of his memoir Four Stars of Destiny that says no copies of the book “in print or digital form have been published, distributed, sold” or otherwise made available to the public.

“This is the status of the book,” Naravane wrote. The former Army Chief shared on the social media platform the statement that was issued on X by Penguin India on Monday night.

Earlier in the day, the Congress alleged inconsistencies in the claims made by publisher Penguin Random House India regarding the publication status of Naravane’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny, even as the Delhi Police registered an FIR to probe the alleged circulation of an unpublished version of the book.

Rahul rebuts publisher’s claim

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi cited a Dec 2023 post by former Army Chief MM Naravane informing people that his book is “available now”, to rebut publisher Penguin Random House India’s statement that the book hasn’t been published.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, while talking to mediapersons outside Parliament, said the situation presented two conflicting claims, one from the publisher stating the book had not been published and another suggesting the book had been made available earlier through pre-order listings. Rahul said he found it difficult to believe that the former Army Chief would misrepresent facts and suggested that portions of the memoir might contain material inconvenient for the government, which could explain the dispute. He said the public must decide which version was credible.

Responding to a question, Rahul referred to a banner displayed at the briefing and said the broader issue needed to be viewed in a wider political context. He said the central point was reflected in the “Narender Surrendered?” message displayed behind him, adding that the trade agreement with the US, the controversy surrounding the memoir and other related developments should be seen together to understand the overall political picture.

He said the developments linked to Gen Naravane and other international issues being discussed were part of the same broader narrative that needed careful public scrutiny. Congress leader Pawan Khera said the publisher appeared to be “under pressure”.

Referring to an earlier social media post by Gen Naravane containing a pre-order link, that was shared by the publisher on X, Khera claimed the publisher’s present position contradicts earlier announcements that the book was scheduled for sale through major online platforms.

The controversy escalated after Penguin Random House India issued a statement asserting that it holds the sole publishing rights to the memoir, but that the book has not yet been published. The company said no print or digital copies have been officially released, distributed, or sold, and warned that any circulation of the text in any form would amount to copyright infringement. It added that legal action would be pursued against any unauthorised dissemination.