Rahul Gandhi cites Naravane memoir, targets PM Modi over China clash

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (February 4) displayed a purported copy of former Army chief MM Naravane's unpublished "memoir" as he lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of dodging responsibility during a critical moment of India-China conflict in 2020 and passing the buck on to Naravane.

Speaking to reporters at the premises of Parliament House complex, the Congress MP held up Naravane's unpublished "memoir" and said that he wanted the youngsters in India to know that this 'book' exists despite the government claiming otherwise.

‘Speaker said the book doesn’t exist’

"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," said Rahul.

Also Read: Naravane book row: Govt is scared, says Priyanka Gandhi

Elaborating further, he stated that Naravane has written the full account of what happened in Ladakh, adding that he has been told that he cannot quote from this "memoir" in the Lok Sabha.

‘Naravane called Rajnath’

"The main line is what the PM said - 'jo uchit samjho woh karo'. When the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Naravane, called Rajnath Singh and said, 'Chinese tanks have come, what should we do? Rajnath Singh did not reply to him at first. He (Naravane) asked S Jaishankar, NSA (Ajit Doval), Rajnath Singh, but did not get a reply," the Congress leader said, citing the "memoir".

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi calls Lok Sabha speech block a blot on democracy in letter to Speaker

"He (Naravane) again called Rajnath Singh ji, who said 'I will ask from the top'. There was a standing order from the top that if 'Chinese forces come in, then you should not fire on them without our permission'. Naravane ji and our army wanted to fire on those tanks because they had entered our territory," he said.

‘PM told Naravane jo uchit samjho woh karo’

"Narendra Modi gave the message - 'jo uchit samjho woh karo'. Meaning he did not fulfil his responsibility. 'Unhone army chief se kaha aapko jo karna hai karo meri bas ki nahi hai' (He told the army chief, you do whatever you want, it is beyond me)", added Rahul.

Also Read: Rahul authenticates article on Naravane's memoir on India-China conflict

The former Congress chief further said the Army chief has written that he felt alone and was abandoned by the entire establishment.

"This is what they are scared of me saying in Parliament," Gandhi said.

"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," he said.

The backdrop

The government-Opposition faceoff in the Lok Sabha intensified on Tuesday as eight protesting MPs were suspended for "unruly behaviour" after Rahul was disallowed for the second day from quoting an article that cited an unpublished "memoir" of Naravane on the 2020 India-China conflict.

The seven MPs from the Congress and one from the CPI (M) were suspended for the remainder of the Budget session, which ends on April 2, for trying to climb on the table of the secretary general, tearing papers and hurling them at the Chair.

Rahul has also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, lodging his strong protest over being disallowed from speaking in the House on a matter of national security and terming it a "blot on our democracy". He has also said that it was for the first time in history that the LoP was not allowed to speak on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.

(With agency inputs)