From Our Correspondent
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, today brandished a copy of former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny while speaking to the media in the Parliament House precinct, escalating a heated political controversy that has repeatedly disrupted parliamentary proceedings.
When asked about the book, Gandhi directly challenged claims made by the government. “The government says this book does not exist. The Speaker has said this book doesn’t exist. Rajnath Singh ji has said this book doesn’t exist,” he said. “Every youngster in India should see that this book exists. This is Naravane ji’s book.”
He then read out passages describing a critical moment during the 2020 Ladakh standoff, when Chinese tanks had entered Indian territory on the Kailash Ridge. According to the account in the memoir, General Naravane called Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to ask for instructions. Receiving no immediate response, the Army Chief sought guidance from the Defence Minister again, who said he would “ask the top.”
Gandhi quoted the memoir’s description of the standing order from the Prime Minister: no firing on Chinese forces without permission. When the Army wanted to engage the intruding tanks, the final message conveyed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was, “Jo uchit samjho, wo karo” (Do what you deem appropriate).
Gandhi interpreted this as an abdication of responsibility: “Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his duty. He told the Army Chief, ‘Do whatever you have to do—it’s beyond me.’” He went on to quote General Naravane’s own words from the book: “I felt really alone. I was abandoned by the entire establishment.”
“This is what they are scared of,” Gandhi declared.
Responding to another question about whether the Prime Minister would attend the Lok Sabha session, Gandhi said, “I don’t think the PM will have the guts to come to the Lok Sabha today, because if he comes, I am going to give him this book. I will go physically and hand him this book so he can read it and the country can know the truth.”
The row began earlier this week when Gandhi tried to quote from excerpts of the yet-to-be-published memoir during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. Ruling party members objected, citing parliamentary rules against referencing unpublished material awaiting security clearance. The House has seen multiple adjournments over the issue.
The government has maintained that the book is not yet cleared for publication, while the opposition alleges deliberate delays to suppress uncomfortable revelations.
