BJP Criticizes Rahul Gandhi Over General Naravane's Statements on China
The BJP has taken aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following remarks made by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who refuted claims of territorial losses to China. During a recent parliamentary session, Gandhi attempted to quote from Naravane's unpublished memoir, which led to a political uproar. BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala emphasized that Naravane confirmed no land was given to China and criticized Gandhi for spreading misinformation. The controversy centers around the military's political backing during the 2020 standoff with China and the implications of using unpublished documents in political discourse. This unfolding situation raises questions about the government's response to border tensions with China.
| Apr 24, 2026, 13:29 IST
BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Following General Naravane's Remarks
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched an attack on Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, after former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane dismissed claims of territorial losses to China. During the budget session in February, Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote excerpts from General Naravane's unpublished memoir, 'Four Stars of Destiny.' However, he was interrupted by the Speaker as the book had not yet been released.
BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala stated that Naravane confirmed that not a single inch of land was ceded to China. He accused Rahul Gandhi of spreading misinformation, asserting that Naravane has now broken his silence to expose Gandhi's falsehoods. Referring to General Naravane, the BJP leader emphasized that the military received political backing during the standoff with China in 2020. Naravane openly criticized the use of unpublished documents to drag him and the armed forces into political disputes.
When questioned about the ground realities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and ongoing border tensions with Beijing, General Naravane suggested that all doubts could be resolved by simply asking the Chinese if they had made any recent advances into Indian territory. In February, Naravane's unpublished autobiography 'Four Stars of Destiny' became a focal point of political controversy when Rahul Gandhi attempted to reference parts of it in the Lok Sabha.
After being denied permission to quote from the unpublished memoir, Gandhi was seen bringing a copy of the book for the remainder of the session. Citing excerpts, the Congress MP claimed that the former Army Chief had informed Rajnath Singh and others about the arrival of 'Chinese tanks' and alleged that there had been a prolonged lack of direct response from the government.