Parliament Drama Deepens as Rahul Gandhi Unveils Unpublished Naravane Memoir

In Shorts

• Rahul Gandhi showcased an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief MM Naravane near Parliament to criticise PM Modi’s role in the 2020 India-China conflict.
• Gandhi said the book exists despite government denials and accused the leadership of passing the buck during a crisis.
• The political standoff has fuelled protests and disruptions within the Lok Sabha session this week.

New Delhi: A fresh political confrontation unfolded outside the Parliament on Wednesday as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi presented a printed copy of former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to shoulder responsibility during the 2020 military standoff with China.

Gandhi held up the memoir on the Parliament grounds, challenging repeated statements from the government, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that the book did not exist. He urged young Indians to know the truth about the controversial document.

According to Gandhi, the book offers a detailed account of the Ladakh crisis, including an alleged message from the Prime Minister that amounted to passing the decision-making to the army leadership. He cited excerpts claiming that when Chinese forces advanced into Indian territory, political leadership delayed crucial responses and left military commanders to decide the next steps.

The Congress leader also said that Naravane felt abandoned by the broader establishment during the tense standoff, a claim that has intensified the political battle. Gandhi asserted that this is the reason the government is reluctant to allow discussion about the memoir inside the Lok Sabha.

Gandhi even dared the Prime Minister to enter the Lok Sabha session, saying he would personally hand over the memoir if Modi showed up. The move comes amid mounting disruptions in the ongoing budget session, with opposition members protesting and raising issues related to national security and transparency.

Political tensions have escalated inside Parliament as opposition parties continue to challenge government actions, leading to interruptions in scheduled proceedings and fiery exchanges on the floor.

The controversy highlights a growing rift over how sensitive defence issues and unpublished personal accounts of senior military leadership should be handled in India’s democratic discourse.