In a dramatic press interaction, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Lok Sabha’s opposition leader, waved former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s memoir, alleging a shocking lapse in leadership during a Chinese incursion. According to Gandhi, Indian forces were ready to neutralize enemy tanks breaching the Line of Actual Control, but received no backing from the top brass.
‘They say the book doesn’t exist—here it is,’ Gandhi retorted, urging youth to scrutinize Naravane’s firsthand narrative. He highlighted a pivotal excerpt where the general describes seeking guidance from key figures amid the crisis at Kailash Ridge.
Naravane reportedly dialed Defense Minister Rajnath Singh urgently: Chinese armor had penetrated Indian positions. Silence ensued. Queries to Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval yielded nothing. A follow-up to Singh brought a reluctant admission—he’d check with the ‘top.’
The ultimate order trickled down: Stand down, no unapproved firing despite the intrusion. Gandhi interpreted this as a dereliction of duty. ‘Troops itched to strike back, rightfully so. But the leadership punted responsibility: ‘Figure it out yourselves.’ ‘
The general’s candid admission resonates: utter loneliness amid systemic abandonment. This bombshell from the book underscores fractures in decision-making during heightened tensions with China.
Gandhi didn’t mince words, promising to deliver the tome directly to PM Modi in Parliament. The episode revives scrutiny of the Galwan Valley clashes and beyond, probing whether political hesitancy compromised military resolve.
With elections looming and border vigilance paramount, Naravane’s disclosures via Gandhi’s platform demand a thorough investigation into what truly transpired on those frigid heights, ensuring no soldier feels deserted again.