Rahul Shows Naravane ‘Memoir’, Targets PM Over Ladakh Standoff

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Gandhi displayed what he said was an unpublished book by former Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane and accused the government of denying its existence to avoid scrutiny.

“The Speaker has said this book does not exist, the government has said it does not exist, and defence minister Rajnath Singh ji has said this book does not exist,” Gandhi said. “I want every youngster in India to see that this book exists.”

Gandhi alleged that the government was unwilling to allow discussion in Parliament as the memoir could raise questions about the response of the political leadership when Chinese troops were positioned along the Line of Actual Control. He did not cite specific passages but claimed the contents related to transparency and decision-making during the crisis.

Quoting Naravane, Gandhi said the former Army chief had written that he “felt really alone” and was “abandoned by the entire establishment”. Referring to the account, he said the Prime Minister’s reported message to the Army chief — “Do whatever you deem appropriate” — indicated that responsibility had been left to the military leadership during a critical moment.

Responding to a question, Gandhi said he did not expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to the Lok Sabha, but added that if he did, he would hand over the book to him. He said the Prime Minister should read it so that the country could know “the truth” about the Ladakh standoff.

Backing the allegations, Congress general secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi said the government was deliberately preventing Rahul Gandhi from speaking in Parliament. She alleged that the ruling establishment feared what the memoir might reveal about the leadership’s response when China was “at our borders”.

“It is not as if there has never been debate in Parliament on China, foreign affairs or Pakistan,” she said, rejecting the argument that such discussions would harm national interest.

The Congress reiterated its demand for a comprehensive parliamentary discussion on the India–China situation, citing continued tensions along the LAC and lack of clarity on disengagement and de-escalation, and accused the government of avoiding accountability by curtailing Opposition voices.