Tension gripped the Lok Sabha as Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader, clashed with Speaker Om Birla over citing unverified sources in a debate on the President’s address. Gandhi invoked former Chief of Army Staff Gen (Retd) Manoj Mukund Naravane’s purported memoir, alleging Chinese tanks penetrated Indian territory in Ladakh’s Kailash Range.
‘There was a border with foreign troops crossing it,’ Gandhi stated defiantly, ignoring repeated interruptions. The ruling coalition swiftly objected, leading to noisy protests that halted proceedings momentarily.
Gandhi maintained his source’s authenticity, pointing to a magazine that quoted Naravane and implicated Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Singh hit back, challenging the memoir’s existence: ‘If blocked unjustly, why didn’t Naravane seek judicial intervention?’
As pandemonium ensued, Gandhi appealed directly to the Speaker: ‘Sir, please guide me on what to say.’ Birla upheld house rules, stressing discussions must align with the motion at hand, regardless of the speaker’s affiliation.
Undeterred, Gandhi reframed his argument without book references, emphasizing incursions by enemy tanks. Rijiju criticized Gandhi’s approach, calling for recognition of parliamentary decorum. In response, Gandhi questioned restrictions on debating critical India-China border issues.
Birla reminded Gandhi of his duties as LoP, noting the address lacked specific border references. ‘International matters aren’t directly linked here,’ he said. The episode reveals simmering discontent over transparency in border conflicts, with Gandhi accusing the chair of stifling vital discourse.
Observers see this as a strategic move by Gandhi to spotlight alleged government cover-ups, fueling a broader narrative of opposition resistance amid national security debates.