Rahul Gandhi’s reference to General Naravane’s unpublished memoir triggers Lok Sabha uproar: What is the Rule 349 row?

However, Gandhi continued to refer to both the memoir — Four Stars of Destiny — and a Caravan magazine article based on it, leading to sharp exchanges with members of the Treasury benches. At one point, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju said the House should also deliberate on how to deal with members who defy the Chair’s ruling.

Neither side relented even after the adjournment of the day’s proceedings, with Gandhi asking why the Government was “scared” and Riiju accusing him of repeatedly breaking Parliamentary norms. Later, several Congress MPs tweeted images of the magazine article, quoting the relevant portions separately.

Rule 349 lays down norms to be observed by members in the House. Clause (i) states that “a member shall not read any book, newspaper or letter except in connection with the business of the House”.

While Gandhi argued that his reference to the book and its contents was linked to the President’s Address and was in response to BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s allegations questioning the Congress’s patriotism, senior ministers maintained that he could not quote from a magazine article or an unpublished book.

“This is from the memoirs of Army Chief Naravane… you will understand who is patriotic and who is not,” Gandhi said, before attempting to read passages related to the 2020 military standoff between India and China.

He was interrupted by objections from Singh, who asked whether the book had been published and argued that it was improper to quote from an unpublished work. Singh also asked Gandhi to table a copy of the book.

Within two minutes of his speech, as Gandhi again referred to “the memoir of Naravane” and spoke about “four Chinese tanks entering Indian territory”, Singh rose from his seat, prompting Gandhi’s senior colleague K C Venugopal to protest. “He is not yielding,” Venugopal said, as Congress members joined him.

Singh reiterated that if the book was unpublished, Gandhi could not quote from it. Venugopal countered that members had often quoted magazines and newspapers in the House.

Birla explained that Gandhi needed to “authenticate” what he was reading. When Gandhi said it was “100% authentic”, Singh again asked whether the book had been published. “I just want him to clarify,” Singh said, before asserting that the book had not been published at all.

With the entire BJP leadership in the House, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah also countered Gandhi, saying, “Magazines can write anything… he is saying the book has not been published. If the book has not been published, how can it be quoted?”

Singh said, “Do not try to mislead the House… unnecessary things should not be said here. This book he is quoting from has not been published.”

At this juncture, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav recalled that several senior leaders, including Ram Manohar Lohia, George Fernandes and Mulayam Singh Yadav, “kept asking us to be cautious about China”, and urged the Speaker to allow Gandhi to continue.

Referring to Gandhi, Rijiju said, “We are here to listen to you. The Prime Minister is also here. Ruling has been given on this issue. How can the House be run if you don’t follow the rules.” Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also was seen trying to intervene.

Birla repeatedly reminded Gandhi that the House would function according to “rules, process and convention”, but Gandhi persisted in referring to the book and its contents.

“I am not able to understand. They say they are fighting terrorism, and they are scared to hear one quotation. What is written in it that they are so scared that I am not allowed to read it? If they are not scared, they should allow me to read it. Why are they scared?” Gandhi said.

The LoP raised the issue again when the House reassembled after a brief adjournment, with similar scenes playing out. “It is a matter of national security. Chinese troops… forces were right in front of our forces. Our forces had the Kailash Range in eastern Ladakh… Chinese forces…,” Gandhi said, as Singh objected once more.

Shah rose to say that a member was raising a point of order, referring to Nishikant Dubey, who cited Rule 349(i) and pointed out that the Congress regime had banned Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses and had not allowed BJP leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani to discuss the book.

Rijiju also objected, saying “there was a limit”. “Every member has a responsibility. We want to listen to Gandhi… things that must not be said, for which there is no permission… by repeatedly saying that, what will you achieve? You want to show the country in a bad light… what benefit will you get? We may have differences, but we all should come together in the national interest. You are saying something without any source…,” he said.

“Who told Rahul Gandhi that Chinese tanks were there and Indian tanks were here? I urge Gandhi not to say things in the House that will demoralise the armed forces and damage the country. The Speaker has given his ruling and we are here to listen to you… the PM was also here. You can say whatever you want, but you will have to adhere to the rules,” Rijiju said.

When Gandhi said he was speaking on national security, which was central to the President’s Address, Birla responded, “The Chair has given a ruling, but despite that you are repeatedly showing disrespect to the Chair’s ruling. I urge you to maintain the dignity of the House. Speak on the President’s Address, speak on policies, criticise, but criticising the Army or its conduct will not be appropriate in the national interest.”

Gandhi retorted, “Everyone in the army knows what happened… you are trying to hide it from the people here. That reality every soldier of this country knows…”

Birla intervened again and finally adjourned the House. The Speaker’s attempts, meanwhile, to resolve the issue in the chamber did not yield any result. Sources said the Congress and other Opposition parties will insist on Tuesday that Gandhi be allowed to speak without interruptions.

The House resumed at 4 pm, but functioned only a few more minutes with Rahul refusing to relent on his demand for a discussion on the situation regarding China, triggering the final adjournment for the day by Chair Jagdambika Pal.

Later, Rahul told reporters he was not being allowed to speak. “… what the (former) Army Chief has said, what Modi ji said to him, what did Rajnath Singh ji say, what order he gave, I want to say this in the House of Parliament. I do not know why they are so scared,” he said.

If he was allowed to speak, Rahul said, the “reality of Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh” and of “the 56-inch chest” in the face of a China advancing towards India “would be revealed to the people”.

Rijiju told reporters that Gandhi “repeatedly disregarded” rules and must apologise for Congress governments ceding territory to China in 1959 and 1962. “Can the Congress today return territory taken by China in… Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh… if you were born in a big family, does that make you above the House, above the rules?” he asked.