Rahul Gandhi Questions Penguin Random House Over Contradictions in Naravane Memoir Case
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday strongly reacted to the FIR filed by Delhi Police concerning the alleged circulation of former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane's unpublished memoir. He also addressed the subsequent clarification issued by its publisher, Penguin Random House India, highlighting what he described as significant contradictions.
Gandhi Points to Public Promotion and Availability
Speaking to reporters, Gandhi directly questioned Penguin's assertion that the book titled Four Stars of Destiny had not been published. He suggested there were clear inconsistencies between the publisher's current stand and earlier statements made by General Naravane himself.
"Here is a tweet from Mr. Naravane which says – 'Just follow the link to my book'," Gandhi stated, referencing past social media activity. "The point I am making is – either Mr. Naravane is lying or it is Penguin which is lying. I don't think the former Army chief will lie," he added emphatically.
Allegations of Inconvenient Content for Government
The Congress leader argued that despite Penguin's firm declaration that the memoir had not been released, evidence suggested it had been publicly promoted in the past and was even available for purchase.
"Penguin says the book has not been published. But the book is available on Amazon. Gen. Naravane has tweeted, 'Please buy my book in 2023.' I believe Naravane ji over Penguin. Do you believe Penguin over Naravane ji?" Gandhi posed to the media.
He further alleged that the contents of the memoir might be the underlying reason for the current controversy. "I believe Naravane ji has made certain statements in his book which are inconvenient for the government of India and the Prime Minister of India. Obviously, you have to decide if Penguin or the former Army chief is telling the truth," Gandhi remarked.
Publisher's Official Stance and Legal Warnings
Gandhi's comments came just one day after Penguin Random House India issued an official statement asserting its exclusive publishing rights to the memoir and clarifying that the book has not yet been officially released.
The publisher stated: "Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book 'Four Stars of Destiny', a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army. We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication."
The company further emphasized that no copies of the book had been made available in any format and issued a stern warning regarding copyright infringement.
"Any copies of the book currently in circulation, in whole or in part, whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, constitutes an infringement of PRHI's copyright and must immediately be ceased," the statement read, adding that legal action would be pursued against any unauthorized dissemination.
Background of the Controversy and Police Investigation
Earlier, Delhi Police registered an FIR and tasked its Special Cell with investigating the alleged leak or circulation of the manuscript in digital and other formats. This issue first gained prominence last week when Rahul Gandhi was seen holding up what he claimed was a copy of the memoir within the Parliament complex.
Gandhi had attempted to cite excerpts from the book in the Lok Sabha starting from February 2 but was consistently prevented from doing so. The grounds cited for this prevention were that the memoir had not yet been officially published, thereby raising questions about its authenticity and the propriety of its use in parliamentary proceedings.
The unfolding situation presents a complex scenario involving:
- Conflicting claims between a prominent political figure and a major publishing house.
- Serious allegations regarding the suppression of potentially inconvenient content.
- An ongoing police investigation into the unauthorized circulation of intellectual property.
- Broader implications for transparency and freedom of information in political discourse.
As the investigation proceeds, the contradictions highlighted by Rahul Gandhi between General Naravane's public promotions and Penguin's official denials remain a central point of contention, fueling further debate and scrutiny.
