Rahul Gandhi Challenges Publisher Over Naravane Book: Old Tweet Sparks New Controversy

In Shorts

• Rahul Gandhi cites Naravane’s 2023 post claiming his book was “available now” to counter the publisher’s statement.
• Penguin Random House India insists the memoir has not been published in any format.
• The issue has sparked political debate and an FIR over alleged circulation of unauthorised copies.

New Delhi, India — Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Tuesday challenged claims by Penguin Random House India about the publishing status of General M.M. Naravane’s memoir, citing a social media post from 2023 to support his stance.

Addressing reporters in the Parliament House complex, Gandhi read aloud an older post published by Naravane on X, formerly Twitter, in which the former Army Chief wrote that his book was “available now” and encouraged followers to “just follow the link” to access it. “Either Mr. Naravane is lying, which I do not believe, or Penguin is lying,” Gandhi said, asserting that both cannot be telling the truth.

The Congress leader claimed that certain content in the memoir is “inconvenient” for the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, intensifying the political dimension of the dispute. He argued that if the book truly was available online, then the publisher’s assertion that it has not been published is contradicted.

In response, Penguin Random House India has maintained that it holds exclusive rights to Naravane’s memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny, and that no copies—print or digital—have been officially published or distributed to the public. The publishing house has warned that any unauthorised versions circulating in full or in part would amount to copyright infringement.

Adding complexity to the saga, the Delhi Police recently registered a First Information Report over the alleged unauthorised circulation of the manuscript, which has not yet received final clearance for publication.

The exchange has touched off a broader debate in Parliament and on social media, with political figures scrutinising the conflicting claims and raising questions about transparency and the book’s availability. As of now, the controversy shows no signs of abating, with both sides standing firmly by their narratives.