Rahul Gandhi cites ex-Army chief Naravane’s book to target PM over China standoff

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Wednesday cited a book written by former Army chief General M.M. Naravane to allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to take responsibility during the 2020 India–China standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Displaying the book inside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said the Speaker and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had claimed that the book did not exist. “This is Naravane ji’s book, in which he has written the account of Ladakh. Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his responsibility. He told the Army chief to do whatever he felt was appropriate,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Quoting from the book, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Prime Minister had conveyed the message “jo uchit samjho woh karo” to then Army chief during the crisis, adding that General Naravane had written that he felt “really alone” at the time.


“This is what they are scared of me saying,” Rahul Gandhi said, accusing the government of attempting to deny the existence of the book.

Rahul Gandhi also said that if the Prime Minister came to the Lok Sabha, he would personally hand over a copy of the former Army chief’s book to him.