Rahul Gandhi Cites Ex-Army Chief's Unpublished Memoir to Target PM Modi Over Ladakh Clash Handling
In a dramatic development in New Delhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday brandished purported excerpts from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane, launching a sharp accusation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister shirked his constitutional responsibility during the critical 2020 India-China military confrontations in the Ladakh region.
Parliamentary Confrontation and Allegations of Leadership Failure
Addressing journalists outside the Parliament building, the Congress leader presented a forceful critique. "The Speaker is asserting that this book does not exist, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stated this book does not exist," Gandhi declared. "This is General Naravane's book where he has documented a firsthand account of the Ladakh situation... Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his responsibility."
He elaborated on the specific charge, stating, "He instructed the Army Chief to proceed as he deemed fit. General Naravane has explicitly written in this memoir that he felt profoundly isolated. This is the revelation they fear me from articulating." Citing the contentious book passages, Gandhi reinforced his central allegation: "The Prime Minister failed in his duty and transferred the onus onto the then army chief." In a direct challenge, he added, "If the Prime Minister attends the Lok Sabha, I will personally present him with ex-army chief Naravane's book."
Background of Parliamentary Procedure Dispute
These pointed remarks follow significant procedural objections raised by the treasury benches on Monday. During discussions concerning the Ladakh clashes, Rahul Gandhi was prevented from quoting passages from the yet-to-be-published book. The government's position, citing established parliamentary rules, was that citing material from an unpublished source is prohibited within the House proceedings.
It is noteworthy that General MM Naravane served as the Chief of Army Staff during the period of the Ladakh standoff. The excerpts referenced by Gandhi were recently made public by an online news portal, adding fuel to the political controversy.
Broader Context of Democratic Protest
Earlier, on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi escalated the matter by submitting a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. In it, he registered his "strongest protest" against being denied the opportunity to speak during the debate on the President's address in the ongoing Budget session. He characterized this restriction as a "stain on our democratic fabric" and alleged that the ruling dispensation is "terrified" of the contents within General Naravane's account.
This episode underscores the intense political friction surrounding the government's handling of national security issues and the interpretation of parliamentary conduct rules. The controversy brings into sharp focus the delicate balance between executive accountability, legislative discourse, and the protocols governing the use of unpublished materials in India's highest democratic forum.
