Uproar in Lok Sabha after Rahul seeks to quote from ex-Army chief Naravane's 'memoir'

The Lok Sabha was thrown into a political confrontation on Monday after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi attempted to raise questions on India’s handling of China during the discussion on the President’s Address, prompting strong objections from the government and repeated interventions by the Speaker.

What began as a response to BJP attacks on the Congress’s patriotism quickly escalated into a broader clash over national security, Parliamentary rules, and the limits placed on the opposition’s right to speak on sensitive foreign policy issues.

At the centre of the row was Gandhi’s reference to reports linked to former Army chief General M M Naravane’s memoir, which he said pointed to serious concerns about Chinese military presence and decision-making at the highest levels of government.

Gandhi began by responding to BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s earlier remarks questioning the Congress’s patriotism. He said the issue of nationalism could not be reduced to slogans and pointed to what he described as serious concerns over national security, referring to four Chinese tanks entering Indian territory in Doklam.

As he spoke, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh intervened, objecting to the reference and demanding that only authenticated material be allowed on the floor of the House.

Gandhi replied that his remarks were based on Naravane’s memoir. Singh countered that the book had not yet been published and therefore could not be treated as an authentic source.

Home Minister Amit Shah supported the objection, stating that unpublished books and magazine reports could not be cited in Parliament and that “anything” could be written in such publications.

Speaker Om Birla stepped in, ruling that House rules do not permit the reading or quoting of any book or article that does not directly relate to the proceedings of Parliament. Singh further argued that “unofficial conversations” or unverified material should not be mentioned in the House.

The controversy centres on General Naravane’s memoir, ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, which has drawn attention for its reported disclosures on sensitive issues, including the 2020 India-China border standoff and the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

The book is currently under review by the Ministry of Defence, with reports suggesting it reveals internal differences within the Armed Forces and policy-making circles, raising wider questions about disclosure norms for retired military officers.

As the interruptions continued, Samajwadi Party MP and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav came out in support of Gandhi, saying the China issue was sensitive and that the Leader of Opposition should be allowed to speak.

Union Minister Kiran Rijiju opposed this, insisting that a ruling had already been given by the Chair and must be accepted and followed.

Shah again intervened, reminding the House that the discussion was on President Droupadi Murmu’s address, not on unpublished books or speculative reports.

Gandhi pushed back, arguing that the President’s Address covered India’s overall situation, including foreign relations with China and the US, exports, and national security. Holding up papers related to Naravane’s account, he said the material spoke directly about the prevailing situation.

The Speaker warned Gandhi not to quote or describe the article. Gandhi responded by asking Birla to clearly state what he was permitted to say.

When told to speak on the issue without references, Gandhi asked why he could not speak on India-China relations if he was not quoting any book or magazine. He questioned whether Parliament was barred from discussing international relations altogether.

Gandhi further said that the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Home Minister had allowed questions to be raised about his party’s character and nationalism. He claimed that the Naravane material raised questions not about China, but about the conduct and decisions of the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister.

The Speaker cited Rule 353, stating that any allegation against a minister must be submitted in writing in advance.

Targeting Tejasvi Surya, Gandhi said the BJP MP had been allowed to question the Congress’s patriotism on the floor of the House.

Shah rejected this, saying Surya had not attacked the character of the Congress. He accused Gandhi of defying the Chair’s rulings and urged that stricter rules be invoked for disregarding the Speaker’s directions.

The standoff brought proceedings to a standstill, with the Speaker adjourning the house till 3 pm.