Parliamentary Proceedings Disrupted Over Unpublished Memoir Controversy
The Lok Sabha descended into chaos on Monday as Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh strongly objected to Rahul Gandhi's use of excerpts from an unpublished memoir during his parliamentary speech. The dramatic confrontation occurred during the Budget Session while Gandhi was responding to the motion of thanks on the President's address.
Defence Minister Questions Authenticity of Quoted Material
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh challenged the Leader of Opposition directly, stating that Gandhi could not legitimately quote from a book that remains unpublished. "He should not be allowed to speak on this... I want that LoP, Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), should present before the House the book he is quoting from, because the book he is referring to has not been published," Singh asserted during the parliamentary uproar. The Defence Minister emphasized the need for proper authentication before such material could be cited in parliamentary proceedings.
Home Minister Raises Procedural Concerns
Union Home Minister Amit Shah joined the objection, urging Speaker Om Birla to prevent the reading of unpublished material. Shah pointed out that "The business of the day is motion of thanks to President's address. Something which is not related to the business, that should not be allowed." His intervention highlighted concerns about maintaining parliamentary decorum and sticking to the scheduled agenda.
The Controversial Memoir at the Center of the Storm
The disputed material comes from former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane's memoir titled 'Four Stars of Destiny', which remains unpublished as of early 2026 due to pending security clearances from the Ministry of Defence. The book contains sensitive details regarding:
- The 2020 Ladakh standoff with China
- India's China policy considerations
- Discussions about the Agnipath military recruitment scheme
Rahul Gandhi had quoted from a magazine article that purportedly contained excerpts from this unpublished memoir while discussing India-China relations during his speech.
Speaker's Intervention and Opposition Support
Speaker Om Birla ruled that Gandhi should not break parliamentary rules by quoting from unpublished sources and urged him to focus specifically on the President's address. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Gandhi's right to speak on China-related matters, stating "The matter relating to China is very sensitive. LoP, Lok Sabha should be allowed to speak." Yadav referenced historical warnings about China from political leaders including Lohiyaji, Netaji (Mulayam Singh), and George Fernandes.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Cites Established Rules
The Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister reinforced the Speaker's position, noting that parliamentary rules prohibit quoting from magazines or newspapers during House proceedings. He emphasized that "Debate in the House should be held according to the laws," underscoring the importance of following established parliamentary procedures.
Gandhi's Defense and Broader Context
Rahul Gandhi maintained that his discussion of China relations was directly relevant since the President's address had mentioned India's foreign relations. The confrontation occurred in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding to the political significance of the exchange during the crucial Budget Session.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the government and opposition regarding parliamentary procedures, national security discussions, and the boundaries of acceptable debate in India's legislative chambers.
