New Delhi : Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has written in his book that when Chinese tanks moved inside Indian territory, the Army asked the political leadership for instructions. According to the book, the reply from PM Narendra Modi was, “Do what you feel is right.” This claim has triggered a big political fight in the country.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said this shows that during a serious national security crisis, the Prime Minister avoided taking clear responsibility. He accused the government of leaving the Army to handle the situation on its own, instead of giving firm directions at a critical moment.
Rahul Gandhi tried to raise this issue in Parliament, saying the country has the right to know what really happened during the India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh in 2020. However, parts of his speech were removed from the official records, which led to loud protests by opposition MPs.
The government responded by saying that General Naravane’s book has not yet been officially published and that quoting from an unpublished book in Parliament is wrong. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said sensitive defence matters should not be discussed without proper verification.
The book is also reported to mention events related to the Galwan Valley clash, where Indian and Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand combat. This has raised questions about how much information retired military officers should share before getting official clearance.
Meanwhile, the political debate continues outside Parliament as well. The opposition claims the truth about the China crisis is being hidden, while the government insists that the Army acted bravely and the country’s borders were protected.