Rahul Gandhi quotes Ex-Army Chief’s memoir, triggers fierce showdown in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha turned chaotic on Monday during the Budget Session. Tensions rose minutes after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi began his speech. The flashpoint came when he quoted from excerpts of a memoir by former Army Chief General Manoj Naravane.

At the outset, Gandhi started his address on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s speech. He sought to raise national security concerns. As he moved ahead, he referred to excerpts published by The Caravan magazine. He said the excerpts came from General Naravane’s memoir.

However, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh immediately objected. He challenged the authenticity of the source. Singh asked Gandhi to clarify whether the book had been published. He asserted that the memoir remained unpublished. Therefore, he said, Gandhi could not quote from it on the House floor.

Soon after, Home Minister Amit Shah joined the objection. He questioned how any member could cite an unpublished book. He stressed that Parliament cannot rely on unverified material. Shah urged Gandhi to continue without referencing the memoir.

Meanwhile, Speaker Om Birla intervened. He reminded the House of parliamentary rules and conventions. He said members must avoid citing books or documents that lack official status or relevance to proceedings. He backed the ministers’ objections and asked Gandhi to stick to accepted sources.

Despite this, Gandhi stood his ground. He insisted that the excerpts carried full credibility. He said The Caravan had published them after verification. He also noted that Rajnath Singh himself featured in the cited material. Congress MPs echoed his demand and pressed the Speaker to allow the reference.

At this stage, Congress MP KC Venugopal rose in support. He said the government could respond after Gandhi completed his speech. Opposition benches grew louder. Treasury benches responded with counter-slogans. The atmosphere inside the House grew tense.

Subsequently, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju intervened. He reiterated that House rules bar members from quoting books, especially unpublished ones. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey reinforced the argument. He urged strict compliance with procedure to protect parliamentary decorum.

Speaker Birla then clarified his position further. He said even published books cannot be quoted if they lack direct relevance to House business. He underlined that the Chair must protect rules above politics. He again asked Gandhi to proceed without citing the memoir.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav supported the Opposition leader. He said issues linked to China and national security deserve open discussion. He argued that Gandhi should get a fair chance to speak. His remarks added to the Opposition’s pushback.

As protests continued, order collapsed. Opposition MPs accused the government of silencing debate. Ruling party members accused the Opposition of violating rules. Both sides shouted across the aisle. The Speaker repeatedly appealed for calm.

Eventually, after nearly 45 minutes of disruption, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm. The adjournment marked the end of the standoff, at least for the session’s first half.

Later, after the House rose, senior ministers met the Speaker. Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh held discussions with Om Birla. The meeting signaled continued concern over procedure and conduct.

The clash highlighted deeper tensions in Parliament. It also reflected sharp divisions over national security debates. As the Budget Session continues, both sides now brace for more confrontations on the floor of the House.