New Delhi’s political corridors are buzzing with fresh controversy as BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi unleashed a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Trivedi demanded an unconditional apology from Gandhi to the nation for his remarks in Parliament about an allegedly unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
Trivedi dismissed Gandhi’s claims as utterly baseless, pointing out that both publisher Penguin and General Naravane himself have confirmed no such book exists or has been published. Penguin went further, warning that any circulation of copies under Naravane’s name would violate copyright laws.
Accusing Gandhi of misleading Parliament and politicizing sensitive national security issues, Trivedi likened the Congress leader’s tactics to those of a cunning child spreading deliberate lies. ‘This is unforgivable. It’s a crime against the sanctity of our democracy,’ Trivedi thundered, urging Gandhi to come clean after the publisher and author clarified the facts.
The episode has paralyzed Lok Sabha proceedings for a week, with repeated disruptions during debates. Gandhi attempted to read purported excerpts from the book, sparking outrage from the ruling side and leading to suspensions of several opposition MPs.
Government sources maintain the manuscript, if any, is under Defence Ministry review, while opposition alleges a cover-up of uncomfortable truths about the India-China border standoff. Delhi Police have even filed an FIR over the alleged leak of unpublished copies, adding layers to the intrigue.
Trivedi hammered home that Congress’s habit of dragging national security into petty politics degrades public discourse. With Penguin and Naravane’s statements debunking Gandhi’s narrative, the BJP leader called it a blatant attempt to fabricate stories for cheap political gains.