The Lok Sabha witnessed a dramatic confrontation on Monday when Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote passages linked to former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir during the Budget Session debate. The move sparked loud objections from senior ministers and resulted in the adjournment of the House, highlighting the sensitivity of the issue and parliamentary rules about citing unpublished sources.
Gandhi said he was raising the matter in response to a ruling party MP’s criticism of the Congress’s patriotism, but the opposition’s move quickly escalated into a heated exchange over parliamentary procedure and national security.
General MM Naravane’s Memoir: What Happened in the Lok Sabha?
During the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Rahul Gandhi held up pages from a magazine article that he said were based on General Naravane’s unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny. He sought to quote a line suggesting “Chinese tanks were within a few hundred metres of Indian positions” during the 2017 Doklam standoff.
However, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh objected strongly, questioning whether Gandhi had the right to quote material from a book that had not been officially published or authenticated. Singh demanded that the actual book be presented if Gandhi intended to quote from it, asserting that it was not in the public domain and could not be used in parliamentary debate.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also joined in objecting, prompting frequent interruptions and shouting from both sides of the House. Speaker Om Birla cited procedural rules and reminded Gandhi that members cannot read from unpublished books during such debates.
Why Is the Naravane Memoir Controversial?
The memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, was written by retired General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who served as the Chief of Army Staff from December 2019 to April 2022. It was expected to be published in April 2024, but clearance from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been pending for over a year, leading to repeated delays.
Books by senior military officials typically undergo scrutiny by the MoD to ensure sensitive defence and operational details are not publicly disclosed prematurely. In this case, the memoir reportedly contains reflections on sensitive topics such as the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, India’s border tensions with China, and internal defence planning.
Gandhi’s attempt to quote from a magazine article reportedly based on the unfinished memoir brought immediate attention to the book’s contents, even though the manuscript itself remains unpublished.
What Rahul Gandhi Claimed in Parliament from General MM Naravane’s Memoir?
Rahul Gandhi defended his reference, insisting the material was “100 percent authentic” and relevant to national security and political accountability. He said he only raised the matter after being challenged on Congress’s patriotism and understanding of national issues.
“I would like to start by reading something,” Gandhi said in the House as he presented the excerpts, arguing they demonstrated who truly understood national security versus those who did not.
Government’s Stand: Parliamentary Rules and Publication Status
The government maintained that quoting from unpublished material is not permitted under parliamentary rules. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh repeatedly stressed that unless the book had been published and authenticated, it could not be treated as a credible source in the Lok Sabha.
Speaker Om Birla referenced Rule 349(i) of the Lok Sabha’s Rules of Procedure, which restricts members from reading from books, newspapers, or letters not directly related to the business of the House. Gandhi initially argued that the content was linked to the President’s Address debate, but the chair and treasury benches disagreed.
What ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ is About?
Though unpublished, the memoir’s official description suggests it covers General Naravane’s four-decade military career, including early encounters with China, operational decision-making at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and internal army matters such as the Agnipath recruitment scheme.
A blurb by former Army chief Gen VP Malik, who led the Indian Army during the Kargil War, praises the memoir for offering “an intimate and veritable insight into different roles, functioning, and ongoing debates within India’s military.”
The book’s insights into strategic decisions and military-political interplay appear to be at the heart of its contentious status.
General MM Naravane’s Memoir: Why the Book’s Publication Is Delayed?
General Naravane has publicly explained that his job was to write and submit the manuscript; clearance from the Ministry of Defence is required before publication. He has said that the publisher and MoD are in constant contact and that the matter is under review, but he has no direct control over the approval process.
“It is still under review for more than a year now,” Naravane said at a literary event, likening the delay to wine aging and expressing patience about the process.
What It Means for Parliament and Defence Discourse
The uproar over an unpublished memoir underscores tensions in how Parliament handles sensitive national security documents and the boundaries of acceptable debate. It also highlights the political sensitivity around military-civil relations and public access to insider accounts of key defence decisions.
As Parliament resumes its Budget Session, the incident is likely to continue shaping discussions on transparency, parliamentary procedure, and how former military leaders’ perspectives are used in political discourse.
