Rahul Gandhi’s Border Remark Sparks Chaos in Lok Sabha

Rahul Gandhi said there was a border and forces of another country were entering it, claiming Chinese tanks moved near the Kailash range. This led to repeated interruptions in the Lok Sabha after the Speaker ruled that only authentic sources could be quoted. The debate turned chaotic, and the Speaker finally stopped him from continuing on the issue during the President’s address discussion.

What Triggered the Lok Sabha Uproar

The tension began when Rahul Gandhi spoke during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. He raised the India-China border issue and referred to claims linked to an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Narvane. Treasury benches objected at once. They said the statements broke House rules and were based on unauthenticated material.

The Speaker stepped in and reminded him about the rule of quoting only verified and authentic sources. Gandhi refused to accept the ruling at first and continued speaking. This caused loud protests from both sides of the House.

The Dispute Over Sources and Rules

Rahul Gandhi insisted that his source was authentic. He said a magazine had quoted the former Army Chief and that the government was trying to stop the book from being published. He also mentioned Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while speaking.

The Speaker clearly ruled that such references were not allowed during the discussion. Gandhi then said he would stop quoting the magazine. Yet he continued talking about the border situation, which again drew objections.

Defence Minister’s Sharp Response

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responded directly in the House. He questioned the claim about the unpublished book. He said if the book really existed and was accurate, it would have been published. If publication was wrongly stopped, the former Army Chief could have gone to court. He asked why no court order was sought.

His statement further heated the atmosphere. Opposition members shouted in protest, saying the Leader of Opposition was not being allowed to speak freely.

Rahul Gandhi Questions the Speaker

As interruptions continued, Rahul Gandhi asked the Speaker what he was supposed to say. The Speaker replied firmly that he was not an advisor. He said his duty was to ensure the House ran as per rules and the discussion stayed on topic. He also added that he had advised treasury benches earlier when they went off subject.

Gandhi again raised the India-China issue. He questioned which rule stopped him from speaking on it in Parliament. The Speaker replied that the President’s address did not mention the India-China issue, so it could not be raised in that debate.

Clash Over Parliamentary Decorum

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju then intervened. He said everyone wanted a peaceful discussion, but rules had to be respected. He added that if even the Leader of Opposition ignored the Speaker’s ruling, it raised serious concerns about how the House should function.

Rahul Gandhi responded by saying he was first stopped from quoting a book and then from raising the India-China issue itself. He asked how international matters had no link to the President’s address.

How the Session Ended

The Speaker reminded Gandhi of his responsibility as Leader of Opposition and said it appeared he did not want to discuss the agenda. When Gandhi refused to move on, the Speaker gave the floor to Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav.

The episode once again highlighted the fine line between free speech and parliamentary rules. It also showed how sensitive the India-China border issue remains inside and outside Parliament.