Uproar in Parliament: Why did Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh object to Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha?

Budget Session: The Lok Sabha witnessed uproar on Monday as Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh countered Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over purported excerpts from the yet-to-be-published memoir of former Army Chief Manoj Naravane on the Doklam stand-off.

During his reply to the motion of thanks on the President’s address in Lok Sabha, Congress leader started his speech quoting a magazine which purportedly published Naravane’s memoir from an “unpublished" book.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh countered the LoP, saying he cannot quote from the “unpublished" book and asked him to authenticate it before the House.

“He should not be allowed to speak on this… I want that LoP, Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), should present before the House the book he is quoting from, because the book he is referring to has not been published," Singh said during the uproar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House.

Former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s memoir, ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, remains unpublished as of early 2026 due to pending security clearances from the Ministry of Defence. The book is stuck in review due to sensitive details regarding the 2020 Ladakh standoff, China policy, and the Agnipath scheme.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also pitched and urged speaker Om Birla not let someone read from the book that has not been published. “ The business of the day is motion of thanks to President's address. Something which is not related to the business, that should not be allowed,” Shah said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also came to Rahul Gandhi’s defence and said this is a very sensitive issue. “Lohiyaji, Netaji (Mulayam Singh) and George Fernandes have all warned us about China. The matter relating to China is very sensitive. LoP, Lok Sabha should be allowed to speak," he said.

Speaker Birla also asked LoP not to break the rules and to read from a book that is not published. He urged Rahul Gandhi to stick to thePresident's address.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister says, the Speaker has given a ruling that articles from magazines or newspapers cannot be quoted in the House. "Debate in the House should be held according to the laws," he said.

Rahul Gandhi repeated that he is responding to the President's address since the President had mentioned India's relations with China.

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