The Indian Army's former chief, General Naravane, has sparked controversy with the release of his unpublished memoir, which details the 2020 clash between India and China along their disputed Himalayan border. The memoir claims that as Chinese tanks advanced towards Indian positions, Naravane was instructed to 'do what he deemed appropriate'. This incident marked the first fatal confrontation between the two nations since 1975. The tensions escalated in 2020, leading to a military standoff in the Galwan river valley in Ladakh, with both sides agreeing to disengage in 2024 after years of negotiations. The controversy arises from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party's accusation that Gandhi, the Congress leader, insulted Indian soldiers and broke parliamentary rules by attempting to read from the unpublished memoir. The memoir has been making headlines since The Caravan magazine published excerpts, and the BBC has contacted Naravane and his publisher for comment. Gandhi's attempt to read from the memoir during a parliamentary discussion was met with opposition from the BJP, who accused him of violating rules and misleading the house. The defense minister, Rajnath Singh, demanded that Gandhi present the book for scrutiny, as it has not been published. Gandhi defended his actions, insisting the source was 'authentic' and his right to quote from it. The disruptions continued, with Gandhi attempting to raise the issue again on Tuesday, leading to further protests and the suspension of eight Congress MPs. Gandhi's interpretation of the memoir's content, including the standing order not to fire upon Chinese troops, has sparked debate and raised questions about the government's handling of the crisis.
