Priyanka Gandhi Backs Rahul After Lok Sabha Clash Over Former Army Chief’s Unreleased Book

Delhi: A major political confrontation unfolded in Parliament on Monday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi referred to portions of an unreleased memoir written by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane. The issue soon escalated into a heated exchange, forcing repeated adjournments of the Lok Sabha.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra came out strongly in support of her brother, rejecting claims by the ruling BJP that Rahul Gandhi had insulted or defamed the Indian Army. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, she said the government was trying to divert attention whenever uncomfortable facts come into public view.

Priyanka clarified that Rahul Gandhi was not making personal allegations or attacking the armed forces. According to her, he was only reading from a published magazine report that carried extracts from General Naravane’s own writing. “Whenever something inconvenient surfaces, they raise the same accusation. This time too, they are trying to hide behind false claims,” she said.

The situation inside the House became tense when Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote a section from the former Army Chief’s unpublished memoir during the Budget Session. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Home Minister Amit Shah objected strongly, interrupting his speech. The ruling party members accused him of politicising sensitive military matters.

Despite repeated objections, Rahul Gandhi maintained that he was merely citing the words of a former top military commander. When the House resumed for the third time within two hours, the confrontation continued, eventually forcing the Speaker to adjourn proceedings for the entire day.

Rahul Gandhi later told journalists that he was deliberately stopped from speaking because the government feared the contents of the former Army Chief’s account. He argued that the discussion was not about party politics, but about accountability and leadership during the India-China border standoff.

He specifically pointed to passages that reportedly mention Chinese military movements during the tense period along the Line of Actual Control. “These are not my opinions. These are the words of a former Army Chief. Why should anyone be afraid of his experience and viewpoint?” Rahul Gandhi asked.