Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday challenged the central government’s objections to his attempt to quote from a report citing former Army chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir, asking why the government is “so intimidated” by that material, and insisted on reading the passages related to the Doklam standoff, which according to him highlight true patriotism.
The Budget session in the Lok Sabha witnessed a heated debate when Gandhi tried to quote a magazine article containing excerpts from the unpublished memoir of former Indian Army chief General MM Naravane.
“What is it in this that is scaring them so much? If they are not scared, then I should be allowed to read it further,” the leader of the opposition said during the motion of thanks on the President’s address.
Gandhi’s reply during the motion of thanks on the President’s address was interrupted by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who expressed concern that the Congress MP could not quote from an unpublished book, which he said was not authenticated.
Referring to an allegation made against the Congress by BJP MP Tejashwi Surya, Rahul Gandhi linked it to questions of patriotism and national culture.
Judicial benches took exception to Gandhi’s attempt to quote excerpts from the unpublished memoir of former army chief General Naravane.
Responding to Tejasvi Surya’s allegation, Gandhi said, “There is a young colleague who has accused the Congress party. I was not going to raise this issue, but since he has raised a question about our patriotism and our understanding of Indian culture, I would like to start by reading something. It is from Army Chief Naravane’s memoir. I request you to listen to it carefully. You will understand exactly who is a patriot and who is not.”
Gandhi further said that the passage related to an incident in Doklam, when “four Chinese tanks were entering Indian territory” and trying to capture a hill. He said, “The Army Chief writes, and I am quoting from an article which is citing his book.”
Rahul Gandhi further said, “This is from Army Chief Naravane’s memoir. I request you to listen to it carefully. You will understand who is really a patriot and who is not. It will take some time, so this is about the time when four Chinese tanks were entering Indian territory. They were occupying a hill in Doklam. The Army Chief writes, and I am quoting from an article which is quoting his book.”
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs objected, arguing that the memoir was not published and could not be cited in the House.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh sought clarification from the opposition leader on whether the book he was citing had been formally published or not. Rajnath Singh said, “I want the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi) to present before the House the book he is referring to, because the book he is referring to has not been published.”
Rahul Gandhi responded by saying that his source was authentic and that the quotes appeared in a published magazine article, citing the unpublished memoirs of former Army chief General MM Naravane, who served as the Army Chief from December 2019 to April 2022.
However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ruled that unpublished material cannot be read out in the House and refused to allow the reading. Opposition members repeatedly demanded that Gandhi be allowed to read the memoir, while ruling party members insisted that House rules forbade mention of unpublished works.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “The Speaker has ordered that articles from magazines or newspapers cannot be quoted in the House… The debate in the House should be as per the laws.”
On what should be done with a member who does not follow the Speaker’s decision in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju came as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi continued to raise the unlisted issue of China and attempted to quote from a magazine article in violation of House rules.
The standoff continued for about 30 minutes with disruptions from both sides as the ruling party said the opposition cannot read any unpublished article or book.
Later, speaking in support of the leader of the opposition, Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav said, “The issue related to China is very sensitive. The leader of the opposition and the Lok Sabha should be allowed to speak.”
Apart from this, as differences persisted on the issue in the House, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also intervened during the debate, following which the proceedings proceeded amid continuous disruptions.