Union Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply criticized Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday for invoking the 2020 India-China border clashes by citing passages from former Army chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir. Rijiju accused Gandhi of deliberately trying to depict India as weak.
Parliamentary Confrontation Unfolds
The remarks followed a tense exchange in the Lok Sabha earlier that day between the government and the opposition. During the session, Gandhi attempted to quote from the memoir, prompting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene. Singh asserted that referencing an unpublished book contravenes the House’s procedural rules.
Rijiju Highlights Procedural Breach
In his response, Rijiju pointed out that Gandhi spent nearly 30 minutes attempting to violate established protocols. He emphasized that the Leader of Opposition did not verify the authenticity of the source material. Despite the Speaker’s ruling under Rule 349, which prohibits unverified quotes, Gandhi persisted in the effort, according to Rijiju.
This incident underscores ongoing debates in Parliament regarding national security discussions and adherence to legislative norms.
