Rahul Gandhi Uses Ex-Army Chief's Memoir to Accuse PM Modi of Evading Responsibility During 2020 China Conflict
In a dramatic development at Parliament House on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi cited what he described as former Army chief General MM Naravane's unpublished "memoir" to launch a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the 2020 India-China border conflict. The Congress leader claimed the Prime Minister failed to fulfill his constitutional responsibility during the critical military standoff in Ladakh.
"This Book Exists Despite Government Denials"
Addressing journalists within the Parliament complex, Gandhi held up what he claimed was Naravane's unpublished account and declared: "The Speaker has said this book does not exist, the government has said it does not exist, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ji has said this book does not exist. Every youngster in India should see that this book exists."
The Congress MP asserted that the former Army chief had documented a comprehensive account of events along the Line of Actual Control during the tense border confrontation with Chinese forces. According to Gandhi, parliamentary authorities had prevented him from quoting directly from the material during Lok Sabha proceedings.
Allegations of Leadership Vacuum During Crisis
Citing what he claimed were excerpts from Naravane's writings, Gandhi presented a troubling narrative of decision-making during the military crisis:
- When Chinese tanks entered Indian territory, General Naravane reportedly contacted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh seeking instructions
- The Defence Minister initially offered no response, according to Gandhi's account
- Naravane then allegedly approached National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar without receiving clear guidance
- When the Army chief contacted Singh again, the Defence Minister reportedly said he would "ask from the top"
Gandhi claimed there existed a standing order from the highest level prohibiting Indian forces from firing on Chinese troops without explicit permission, even when they had entered Indian territory. According to his interpretation of the memoir, the Army leadership wanted to respond with force but felt constrained by political directives.
"Jo Uchit Samjho Woh Karo" - The Controversial Directive
The Opposition leader focused particularly on what he described as Prime Minister Modi's message to the military leadership: "jo uchit samjho woh karo" (do what you deem appropriate). Gandhi interpreted this as evidence that the Prime Minister had abdicated his responsibility during a national security crisis.
"Narendra Modi gave the message - 'jo uchit samjho woh karo'. Meaning he did not fulfil his responsibility. He told the army chief, you do whatever you want, it is beyond me," Gandhi asserted, adding that Naravane reportedly felt abandoned by the political establishment during the critical period.
Parliamentary Confrontation Escalates
The allegations emerged against a backdrop of intense parliamentary confrontation. On Tuesday, eight opposition MPs faced suspension for the remainder of the Budget Session (ending April 2) following what authorities described as "unruly behaviour" that included attempting to climb the secretary general's table and throwing papers toward the Chair.
Gandhi revealed he had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla protesting what he called a "blot on our democracy" - being prevented from speaking on national security matters during the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. He claimed this marked the first instance in parliamentary history where a Leader of Opposition was denied this opportunity.
Political Standoff Intensifies
The Congress leader issued a direct challenge to the Prime Minister: "I don't think the PM will have the guts to come to the Lok Sabha today. If he comes, I am going to give him this book."
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to respond to the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha at 5 PM on Thursday, according to agency reports. The parliamentary proceedings have witnessed repeated disruptions over the past two days during discussions on the President's Address, leading to multiple adjournments.
The controversy surrounding the unpublished memoir and the allegations about leadership during the China conflict have injected fresh tension into India's political landscape, raising questions about civil-military relations and crisis decision-making at the highest levels of government.
