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Opposition leader cites unpublished memoir in parliament row
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi triggered a parliamentary uproar this week by attempting to quote from an unpublished memoir by former army chief General MM Naravane, which alleges top political leaders failed to provide clear directives during the 2020 India-China border clash.
Allegations from the memoir
Gandhi claimed the book, Four Stars of Destiny, states that as Chinese tanks advanced toward Indian positions in the Galwan Valley, Naravane was instructed to "do what he deemed appropriate." The memoir has been awaiting government clearance since 2024.
The 2020 standoff, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, marked the first fatal confrontation between the two nations since 1975. Tensions de-escalated in 2024 following prolonged military and diplomatic negotiations.
Parliamentary disruptions
Gandhi's attempts to read excerpts from the memoir during a Monday debate in the lower house of parliament were repeatedly interrupted by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah. They accused him of violating parliamentary rules by citing an unpublished document.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that Gandhi could continue speaking but should not present unverified claims. The opposition leader insisted his source was "authentic" and that he had the right to quote it. The heated exchanges led to the adjournment of proceedings on Monday.
Disruptions continued on Tuesday, with eight Congress MPs suspended for disorderly conduct after Gandhi attempted to raise the issue again. On Wednesday, he displayed a copy of the unpublished book to reporters outside parliament, asserting that Singh's claim the book did not exist was false.
Key claims and reactions
"The standing order was not to fire upon Chinese troops if they entered Indian territory without asking the top leadership."
Rahul Gandhi, quoting Naravane's memoir
Gandhi further quoted Naravane as saying he felt "abandoned by the entire establishment" after repeatedly seeking guidance from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who allegedly relayed a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaving the decision to the army chief.
The BJP accused Gandhi of insulting Indian soldiers and misleading parliament. The government has consistently denied opposition claims that it ceded territory to China during the standoff.
Memoir's status and clearance process
Naravane's memoir, which reportedly includes sensitive operational details of the 2020 standoff, was expected to be published in 2024 but remains delayed. The publisher, Penguin Random House, has not disclosed the reasons for the hold-up.
In April 2025, Naravane told a Hindi YouTube channel that discussions were ongoing between the publisher and the defence ministry to secure necessary clearances. Under Indian regulations, retired intelligence and security officials must obtain approval before publishing material that could impact national sovereignty or integrity.
Retired army general KJS Dhillon explained that manuscripts containing operational details must be submitted to army headquarters for review. Possible outcomes include approval, consultations with the author, or rejection if the content is deemed a security risk.
Precedents and broader context
Naravane is not the first retired military officer to write about India's border conflicts. Former army chief Gen VP Malik published an account of the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, while Dhillon has authored books on his tenure in Kashmir and the 2025 military tensions with Pakistan.
The BBC has not independently verified the excerpts from Naravane's memoir and has sought comment from the general and his publisher.
