‘Haven’t seen final copy of book’: Ex-Army chief Naravane questions Rahul Gandhi’s ‘access’ claim

New Delhi: A political storm has erupted after former Indian Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane made a startling revelation: He hasn’t even seen his own alleged ‘unpublished’ memoir that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been citing to target the Centre.

In a sharp and no-holds-barred response, General (Retd.) Naravane dismissed the controversy around his book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, asserting that no version of the book exists in public circulation, not even for him.

“I myself haven’t seen a final copy of that book as an author. So I can’t say which book it was or where it came from,” he said, raising serious questions about the authenticity of the document waved by Rahul Gandhi outside Parliament.

‘No Copy Exists’: Publisher Backs Claim

Backing his stance, Naravane pointed to publisher Penguin Random House India, which has categorically stated that no print, hard copy, or even soft copy of the book is in circulation.

This directly challenges Rahul Gandhi’s dramatic claim, where he cited alleged excerpts from the book to corner the government over its handling of the 2020 India-China standoff.

The unanswered question now looms large: If the book doesn’t exist publicly, what exactly did Rahul Gandhi present?

‘Wrong Perspective’ On Army Freedom Claim

One of the most debated excerpts highlighted by Gandhi referred to the Army being told to act as it deemed appropriate, a phrase interpreted by critics as a lack of political direction. Naravane, however, firmly rejected that narrative.

“The Army is always given full freedom. That freedom reflects the government’s full trust in its forces,” he clarified, adding that critics are deliberately twisting the context.

He went a step further, taking a swipe at detractors: “If you always want to see the glass half empty, there is no solution for that.”

‘Whole-of-Nation Effort’: Naravane Defends Strategy

Defending India’s response during the Galwan crisis, Naravane stressed that military action is never isolated but part of a broader national strategy involving political, diplomatic, and military coordination.

Referring to the face-off with China along the Line of Actual Control, he doubled down on the claim that India forced Beijing to retreat.

“We believe our actions made the PLA step back. Visuals of them dismantling bunkers, that had never happened before.”

‘If This Isn’t Victory…?’: Strong Message To Critics

Amid ongoing skepticism over whether India truly gained the upper hand, Naravane issued a blunt challenge: “If this isn’t a victory, then what is?”

The former Army chief’s remarks have now added fuel to an already heated political battle, shifting focus from the government’s China policy to the credibility of the ‘mystery book’ itself.

As the row deepens, the central question remains unresolved: Who accessed a book that, according to its own author, doesn’t officially exist?