Rahul Gandhi: For the second consecutive day, Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha during the budget session was met with uproar. Rahul Gandhi wanted to raise issues related to China, citing a book by former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane.
He was prevented from speaking further in the House due to procedural rules, but on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi publicly presented the same book to the media outside Parliament.
Rahul speaks to the media:
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Rahul Gandhi, holding the book, said that the government and the Speaker were claiming that no such book existed, while the truth was evident to everyone. He said that the country’s youth should definitely see this book, as it documents events that the nation needs to be aware of.
“If the Prime Minister comes, I will give him the book myself”:
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi said that he didn’t think the Prime Minister would come to the Lok Sabha today. He added that if the PM did come to the House, he would personally hand him the book so that he could read it and tell the truth to the country.-
Mention of China and the Kailash Range:
According to Rahul Gandhi, the book states that when Chinese tanks reached the Kailash Range, the then Army Chief contacted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and asked what steps should be taken. He claimed that no clear instructions were given at that time, and the situation was extremely sensitive.
Orders from “the top” and a ban on firing:
Rahul Gandhi said that according to the book, it emerged that there were instructions from “the top” not to fire on the Chinese army without permission. He said that the army wanted to take action at that time because Chinese tanks had entered Indian territory, but the decision was delayed due to a lack of orders.
Direct attack on the PM:
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister only told the Army Chief, “Do whatever you deem appropriate.” He described this as an evasive approach and said that the country’s Prime Minister should have shown clear leadership in such a situation.
Rahul claimed that General Naravane wrote in the book that he felt extremely lonely at the time and that the entire system had abandoned him.
Signs of intensified political debate:
After Rahul Gandhi made the book public, the issue has now become a major political talking point outside of Parliament as well. There are indications that this rhetoric will intensify in the coming days.
