The uproar in Parliament over Rahul Gandhi’s citation of unpublished excerpts from former Army Chief Manoj Naravane’s memoir has drawn sharp rebuttals from defense circles. Veteran analyst PK Sehgal, speaking candidly, defends the contents as harmless to national interests.
Naravane stepped down in 2022, bound by a five-year blackout on sensitive disclosures. Sehgal sympathizes with any governmental caution: ‘It’s prudent if security concerns delay release.’
Gandhi highlighted alleged revelations about Chinese tanks encroaching during Doklam 2017 and Galwan clashes. Sehgal counters: ‘India dominated that 73-day Doklam face-off. Beijing’s bluster about surpassing 1962 humiliations was empty; our restraint and preparedness shone through.’
He questions the tank narrative, linking it to China’s failed bid to construct a road menacing the Siliguri Corridor and Indian movements. ‘Our forces stopped them cold, compelling withdrawal,’ Sehgal noted.
Public curiosity has surged from Naravane’s speech snippets. ‘The book holds no real security risks today. Publish it to satisfy transparency demands,’ Sehgal recommends.
Regarding Kailash Range, tank proximity might hold truth, but ‘India’s strength deterred escalation. China’s pullout demand was tactical; yielding there prolonged their stay unnecessarily.’
Sehgal views Gandhi’s remarks ambivalently—legitimate opposition, yet often diversionary. He hints at internal dynamics: Naravane’s Agniveer dissent possibly sidelined him from CDS contention in favor of General Rawat.
This episode highlights ongoing tensions between political discourse, military memoirs, and safeguarding India’s strategic edges amid border sensitivities.