Delhi: A major political confrontation unfolded in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi referred to content linked to an unpublished book by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane. The reference immediately triggered objections from the ruling side and led to a heated exchange on the floor of the House.
Rahul Gandhi cited a magazine article that reportedly carried portions of General Naravane’s yet-to-be-released memoir, Four Stars of Destiny. He said he was responding to repeated claims questioning the patriotism of the Congress party and wanted to highlight facts related to the India-China military standoff.
However, Union Ministers objected strongly, arguing that Parliament rules do not allow references to unpublished material, especially when it relates to national security. The Speaker intervened, and Gandhi was stopped from reading further, sparking loud protests and forcing an adjournment.
So what exactly is in the book that caused such a strong reaction?
According to leaked excerpts circulating in the media, the memoir offers an inside account of the 2020 India-China border tensions. General Naravane reportedly describes a tense night in August 2020 at Rechin La, where Indian and Chinese tanks were positioned face-to-face. Such first-hand details of high-level military situations are rarely shared publicly, especially by retired officers.
The book is also said to include candid remarks on the Agnipath military recruitment scheme. In the leaked sections, Naravane reportedly wrote that the Navy and Air Force were not fully prepared when the scheme was rolled out. He also mentioned that the Army had originally planned a limited “Tour of Duty” experiment, but the final policy turned out to be much broader than expected.
Although the memoir has not been officially banned, its release has been stalled. Just before its planned publication in early 2024, the Ministry of Defence and the Army stepped in to review the manuscript. Officials cited concerns that certain portions might violate service rules or reveal sensitive information.
Under existing rules, retired defence officials must get prior approval before publishing material related to their service. Since such clearance was not obtained before the manuscript went to publishers, the Defence Ministry ordered a detailed review.
Reacting to the delay earlier, General Naravane had joked that the book was “aging like fine wine,” suggesting that the wait might only increase its value. He later clarified that while writing the book was his responsibility, getting official permissions rests with the publisher.
