Rahul Gandhi Cites Unpublished Book, Ruckus Erupts

In a high-octane confrontation in the Lok Sabha today, Monday, February 2, 2026, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and top ministers of the Union Cabinet clashed over references to a controversial, unpublished memoir of a former Army Chief.

The ruckus broke out during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, just a day after the presentation of the Union Budget 2026–27.

The Bone of Contention: ‘Four Stars of Destiny’

Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from a magazine article (reported to be in The Caravan) that featured excerpts from General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s upcoming memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny.

Rahul Gandhi’s Allegation: He cited the book to claim the government had “misled” the nation regarding the 2020 Ladakh standoff and the Agnipath scheme. He further alleged that the government was “blocking” the publication of the book because it contains “uncomfortable truths.”
The Contentious Quote: Gandhi referred to “Chinese tanks” and high-level decision-making during the Doklam and Galwan crises, insisting that his source was “100% authentic.”

The Government’s Counter-Strike

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah led a vigorous defense, challenging the LoP to “authenticate” his sources.

Rajnath Singh’s Objection: The Defence Minister stated that since the book has not been formally published, it cannot be cited as a factual record in Parliament. “I want that the LoP should present the book before the House… it has not been published,” Singh remarked, accusing Gandhi of misleading the House.
Amit Shah’s Interjection: The Home Minister backed Singh, stating that “magazines can publish anything” and that parliamentary debates must rely on officially published and verified documents.
Speaker’s Ruling: Speaker Om Birla eventually ruled in favor of the Treasury benches, stating that newspaper clippings or unpublished materials that are not “authenticated” cannot be part of the official record. He directed the LoP to stick to the President’s address.

Broader Budget Session Unrest

The clash over General Naravane’s book added fuel to an already polarized session:

Opposition Boycott: Earlier in the day, TMC MPs walked out of the Rajya Sabha, alleging that West Bengal was “completely ignored” in the Budget.
Market Reaction: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav used the post-budget market dip to target the government, saying, “The Sensex reaction speaks for itself.”
The “Epstein” Motion: Congress MP Manickam Tagore sought an urgent discussion on international reports allegedly mentioning PM Modi in communications linked to Jeffrey Epstein—a claim the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has vehemently dismissed as “trashy ruminations.”