High Drama in Lok Sabha : BJP Uproar Over Rahul Gandhi’s China-Pakistan Query

New Delhi.

The Lok Sabha witnessed stormy scenes on Tuesday as Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi attempted to raise questions regarding national security and India’s relations with China and Pakistan. The House was adjourned until 3:00 PM following a heated exchange between the treasury benches and the opposition.

The Core of the Controversy: General Naravane’s Memoir

The friction began when Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from an article in The Caravan magazine, which reportedly contains excerpts from former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny.

• The Backdrop: On Monday, Gandhi had already tried to read these excerpts, which discuss the 2020 India-China border standoff.

• The Objection: BJP MPs and Union Ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, strongly objected, citing parliamentary rules that prohibit quoting from unpublished or unauthenticated documents.

“Why Am I Being Blocked?” – Rahul Gandhi

Despite the previous day’s standoff, Gandhi persisted on Tuesday, stating that he had “authenticated” the article. He argued that the issue is central to the President’s Address, which outlines India’s future path.

“A very important issue in the President’s speech is national security—the question of our relations with Pakistanis, the Chinese, and us. The defining global issue today is the conflict between China and the US. I am only asking to make a statement on what happened between China and India and how our PM reacted. Why am I being stopped?” Gandhi questioned in the House.

Multiple Adjournments and Rule Citations

The session was marked by chaos:

• Speaker’s Ruling: Speaker Om Birla and the Chair cited Rule 349, which restricts members from reading books or magazines unless they are directly connected to the business of the House.

• Opposition Solidarity: Several opposition members backed Gandhi, accusing the government of hiding facts about the Ladakh standoff.

• Trade Deal Protests: Earlier in the day, the House was also adjourned over opposition protests against the recent India-US Trade Agreement, which they termed a “surrender” to US interests.

As the standoff continues, the government maintains that Gandhi is “misleading the House,” while the opposition claims their voice is being suppressed on matters of grave national importance.

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