New Delhi: Lok Sabha Monday witnessed a heated face-off between Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the treasury benches when he attempted to read out excerpts on the 2020 China border crisis from former Army chief M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir, inviting repeated objections from Speaker Om Birla, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Birla’s refusal to allow Rahul to quote from an unpublished book, triggered an uproar, leading to multiple adjournments of the House and eventual washout of the proceedings.
Rahul sought to read out the contents of a news article in The Caravan magazine carrying the excerpts, which were first published by the Press Trust of India in December 2023. ThePrint had also carried the PTI report on its website.
The excerpts were about the decision-making process around the Rechin La tensions between India and China and the use of tank columns. Incidentally, ThePrint was first to report the full details of the operation that was described as a “race for the passes”.
Rahul was interrupted by the defence minister moments after he began his speech on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. The Congress MP said that while he had no intention of raising the issue in his speech, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya compelled him to do so by questioning the Congress’s patriotism and understanding of Indian culture.
“A young colleague over there made an allegation against the Congress party. I was not going to raise this issue, but because he has raised the issue about our patriotism, our understanding of Indian culture, I would like to start by reading something. And this is from the memoir of Army Chief Naravane. I would like you to listen nicely, you will understand exactly who is patriotic and who is not,” Rahul said.
“This is about when four Chinese tanks were entering Indian territory. They were taking a ridge in Doklam, and the army chief writes, and I quote from an article that is quoting his book. The tanks were within a few hundred metres of the Indian position in the Kailash range,” he continued, prompting the defence minister to rise and object.
“Has the book been published in which he has mentioned these things? If it has been published, then you mention it. But if it has not been published, then it is not appropriate to mention it,” Singh said. Rahul asserted that the book is “100 percent authentic” and that Singh was “getting exercised as his name is going to be mentioned”.
Singh retorted, “I just want him to respond to whether the book has been published or not. If not, then he should clarify which book he is quoting from.” Rahul then held up a copy of the magazine that published the excerpts, prompting the home minister to step in.
In October 2025, responding to a question on the pending approval from the government on the publication of his memoir—‘Four Stars of Destiny’—Naravane had said that the publisher had submitted it to the Ministry of Defence for review.
“So it is not for me to follow up. The ball is in the publisher’s and the MoD’s court. But I enjoyed writing the book, for better or for worse. And that’s that. It is for the MoD to give permission as and when they deem fit,” he said.
The December 2023 PTI news report contains Naravane’s account of the tense situation that developed following the movement of four Chinese tanks along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh on the night of 31 August, 2020.
In his unpublished account, Naravane also detailed the measures, including his interactions with the political leadership, which he took to stop the Chinese tanks from entering Indian territory and prevent any further escalation.
“A magazine can write anything,” Shah said, challenging Rahul to authenticate his claims. Rahul responded by reiterating that the excerpts are “guaranteed authentic”, adding that “General Naravane has said that the government is not allowing it to be published”.
At this point, Birla intervened and said that an MP cannot read out the contents of a book on the floor of the House even if it has been published.
As Rahul refused to budge from his position, his microphone was cut off.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Rahul, saying, “The matter of China is very serious. If there is any suggestion in the national interest, then I believe that the LoP should read it. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, George Fernandes and Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) always used to say that we should always be wary of China.”
When the House reconvened at 4 pm, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal assumed the role of the presiding officer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah had also left the House. The defence minister remained present.
“There is a very important matter I have been trying to raise. It is a matter of national security. I don’t understand what is there in these words that the PM and Amit Shah have escaped,” Rahul said, pointing out the absence of Modi and Shah from the treasury benches.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took exception to the use of the word “escaped”.
Eventually, at 4.10 pm, the House was adjourned for the day.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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