The controversy over the memoirs started when Rahul Gandhi was stopped from quoting an article referring to an unpublished “memoir” of former army chief Naravaan.
The Leader of the Opposition (LOP) had a spat in the Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhiand Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu Gandhi’s proposed handshake was later rejected when the Congress MP referred to the former Congress leader as a “traitorous friend” outside Parliament.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi speaks to the media as he displays a copy of the unpublished “memoir” of former army chief MM Naravane during the budget session of Parliament. (PTI)Meanwhile, Gandhi’s “memorable streak” continued on Wednesday when he displayed the “four stars of fortune”, former army chief M.M. Naravan’s booktold reporters that he would hand over to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi If he comes to Lok Sabha.
The controversy over the memoirs erupted when Rahul Gandhi was barred for a second day on Tuesday from quoting an article referring to an unpublished “memoir” by former army chief Naravane on the 2020 India-China conflict.
Also Read | ‘It’s not me’: Rahul Gandhi clears air on reference to former army chief MM Naravane’s memoirRahul Gandhi Vs Ravneet Singh BittuA war of words erupted when the Lok Sabha LOP and ministers met outside Parliament, where Congress MPs were protesting. When Gandhi saw Bittu enter the premises, he called him a “traitorous friend” and extended his hand for a handshake.
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“There is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face,” the Congress leader said, as he waved his hand, “Hello, brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to the Congress),” according to a video shared by news agency ANI.
It is worth noting that Bittu left the Congress and joined the BJP in 2024. The argument started after Ravneet Bittu responded to the protesting MPs by saying, “They are sitting as if they have won the war.”
The minister refused to shake hands and referred to Rahul as “desh ke dushman (enemy of the state)”.
Also Read | 8 Congress MPs suspended from Lok Sabha amid chaos over ex-army chief Naravane’s memoir quoted by Rahul GandhiPrime Minister will give memoirs to Modi, says Rahul GandhiDisplaying the unpublished “memoir” of former army chief Naravaan claiming that PM Modi failed to act during the India-China standoff in 2020 and shifting responsibility to Naravan, Rahul Gandhi said he would give the book to PM Modi when he comes to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Speaking inside the Parliament House complex, Gandhi held up the “memoir” and said he wanted India’s youth to know that the “book” existed, despite the government saying otherwise.
“The main line is what the Prime Minister said, ‘Zo khti jho jho jho karo’. When army chief General Naravane called Rajnath Singh and said, ‘Chinese tanks have arrived, what should we do?’ Rajnath Singh did not respond to him at first. He asked (Naravane) S Jaishankar, NSA (Ajit Doval), Rajnath Singh, but did not get a reply,” the Congress leader said, referring to the “memoir”.
“I don’t think the Prime Minister will have the courage to come to the Lok Sabha today. If he does, I will give him this book,” he added.
‘Prime Minister uncompromising’ on Congress protestSuspended Congress MPs were seen protesting outside Parliament, holding posters reading “Prime Minister compromised”. Rahul Gandhi had earlier made the same claim while talking to the media on the Indo-US trade deal.
The eight suspended MPs are Manikom Thakur, Kiran Reddy, Prashant Padol, Hiby Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Waring, Gurjit Ajla, S Venkat Raman and Dean Kuriakos.
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with input from organizations
