Parliament Row Over Former Army Chief M. M. Naravane Following Rahul Gandhi’s Claims

A heated debate erupted in the Lok Sabha on Monday over alleged claims attributed to former Indian Army Chief General M. M. Naravane in an unpublished book. The controversy began with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who cited excerpts from a purported magazine report, claiming that Naravane’s unpublished memoir referred to Chinese military movements during the Doklam standoff.

The ruling party strongly opposed these allegations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju challenged Gandhi’s claims, leading to repeated interruptions in the House proceedings. Later, an old video of General Naravane surfaced, casting doubt on the assertions made by Rahul Gandhi.

The Controversial Book
The dispute revolves around a purported unpublished memoir of General Manoj Mukund Naravane, the 27th Chief of the Indian Army. Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote this book in the Lok Sabha, referencing a magazine report claiming mention of “Chinese tanks in Doklam.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh objected to this, and Amit Shah argued that the statements were published by the magazine, not Naravane himself, warning that such misrepresentation could advance agendas against India and its armed forces. The House proceedings were eventually adjourned until Tuesday.

Old Video of Naravane Raises Questions
A previously recorded interview of Naravane shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya on X (formerly Twitter) shows him stating, “Not an inch of our land has gone.” Malviya described Rahul Gandhi’s claims as false, warning that using parliamentary privileges to spread misinformation could undermine national security and public trust in the armed forces.

Who is General M. M. Naravane?
General Manoj Mukund Naravane served as the 27th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. He assumed office on 31 December 2019, succeeding General Bipin Rawat, and also served as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 15 December 2021 until his retirement on 30 April 2022.

Early Career in the Army
Born on 22 April 1960 in Pune, Naravane is the son of a former Indian Air Force officer. He attended the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, and completed an M.Phil in Defence Studies. He was commissioned in June 1980 into the 7th Battalion, Sikh Light Infantry. Over his career, he commanded units including the 2nd Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, and the 106 Infantry Brigade, as well as the Assam Rifles. He led counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and India’s Northeast.