Lok Sabha Proceedings Halted Over Rahul Gandhi's Attempt to Quote Naravane's Memoirs
Lok Sabha proceedings came to a grinding halt on Monday after Speaker Om Birla invoked parliamentary rules against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The controversy erupted when Gandhi sought to quote observations from a magazine article discussing former Indian Army chief (retired) Manoj Mukund Naravane's memoirs, which detail the India-China confrontations at Doklam and Galwan.
Defence Minister and Home Minister Object Strongly
Within minutes of Gandhi commencing his statement during the Vote of Thanks for the President's Budget Session address, senior MPs including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju raised objections. They argued that parliamentary rules prohibit referencing unpublished materials, questioning the authenticity and propriety of Gandhi's intended quotes.
The Raebareli MP had initiated his remarks by responding to BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who had allegedly questioned the Congress party's patriotism. Gandhi stated, "A young colleague over there made an allegation against the Congress party; I was not going to raise this issue. But, because he has raised the issue about our patriotism, our understanding of Indian culture, I would like to start by reading something." He then referred to Naravane's memoirs, highlighting an incident where four Chinese tanks were entering Indian territory in Doklam.
Debate Over Publication Status and Authenticity
Rajnath Singh immediately intervened, demanding clarity on whether the book in question had been published. "Has that book where all these things have been written been published? If it has been published, quote them, if it has not been published it is not appropriate to refer to them," the Defence Minister asserted. Speaker Birla supported this point, citing a precedent where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had made a submission based on a published book, emphasizing the need for authentication in the House.
In response, Gandhi insisted that his submission was "100% authentic" and accused Singh of being "exercised" because his name was about to be quoted. However, he did not confirm the publication status, leading to further protests. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal defended Gandhi, arguing that quoting from a magazine report had precedents in Parliament and alleging deliberate disruption.
Accusations of Misleading the House and National Security Concerns
Amit Shah weighed in, questioning the authenticity of Gandhi's allegations against Surya and stressing that a magazine "can write anything." Singh escalated the tension by accusing Gandhi of "trying to mislead the House" and stating that "irrelevant things should not be mentioned here." Despite this, Gandhi persisted, asking, "Why are they scared?" and framing the issue as one of national security.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav supported Gandhi, arguing that matters of national interest should be allowed for discussion. However, Rijiju countered, accusing Gandhi of seeking to demoralize the armed forces and highlighting past Chinese incursions under Jawaharlal Nehru's government. The deadlock led to multiple adjournments, with neither side backing down upon resumption.
Aftermath and Continued Stalemate
Following the initial adjournment till 3 pm, proceedings resumed with Gandhi reiterating the topic as "national security," while Rijiju maintained his accusations. Gandhi retaliated by claiming that "every soldier" in the country knows what happened between India and China. The House was adjourned again till 4 pm, reflecting the ongoing political rift and procedural disputes over sensitive military disclosures.
This incident underscores the intense partisan dynamics in Lok Sabha, where debates on national security and historical events often spark heated exchanges, delaying legislative business and highlighting the challenges of parliamentary decorum in India's democratic framework.
