Why did the government ban former Army Chief Naravane’s book? Here’s what’s behind it.

New Delhi: Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s memoir, ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, is currently the subject of intense discussion in political and military circles. Following reports that opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had read alleged excerpts from the unpublished book, questions surrounding confidentiality and regulations for retired military officers have once again come to the forefront.

What is the entire controversy?
General M.M. Naravane served as Army Chief from December 2019 to April 2022. He has written a memoir after his retirement. The book is said to contain crucial details on sensitive topics such as the 2020 Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff and the Agnipath scheme.

The book was scheduled for release in January 2024, but the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Army instructed the publisher to halt publication until the review process was complete. The book’s future is currently uncertain as it has not yet received ‘clearance’ from the ministry.

Rules for Retired Military Officers
Senior military officers, especially those who have held sensitive positions, are bound by certain strict rules.

Official Secrets Act (OSA): Under this act, no officer can disclose information after retirement that could endanger national security.

Permission for Publication: Prior permission from the government is mandatory before publishing any book or article containing confidential or sensitive information. Cooling-off Period: A one-year ‘cooling-off’ period is mandated after retirement before taking up employment in the private or commercial sector.

Consequences of Violating the Rules
If a military officer violates these rules, the government can take strict action. They can be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act. According to CCS (Pension) Rules, a portion or the entire pension of the officer can be withheld for violating the rules. Tensions with China on the LAC
Experts believe that if this book reveals strategic information related to the 2020 standoff, it could further escalate the situation with China on the LAC. A violent clash occurred between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley in May-June 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. It was under General Naravane’s leadership that India retaliated and then initiated the process of disengagement of troops from several areas through military-level talks.

Currently, the situation on the LAC is relatively calm, but a heavy military presence remains on both sides. The government’s stance is clear that sensitive information related to national security should not be disclosed under any circumstances, which is why General Naravane’s book has not yet received the green light.

Rahul Gandhi targets Prime Minister and Defence Minister
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Parliament, citing excerpts from the draft memoirs of a former Army chief. He alleged that the government is afraid that if the contents of the book are revealed, the country will learn the truth about the two top BJP leaders and what happened to the “56-inch chest” in the face of China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retaliated against the former Congress president, saying that he was trying to mislead the House by making “imaginary claims” and questioning the Army.

Rahul Gandhi also said that the country would find out what happened to the “56-inch chest” when Chinese soldiers were advancing. He claimed that “Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, and the entire government are afraid of just one line. I will speak that line in Parliament, and no one can stop me.” Later, Rahul wrote on ‘X’, “The former Army chief’s statement will expose how Modi ji and Rajnath ji disappointed the Army. Fearing their exposure, they are not allowing me to speak in Parliament.” The Congress party says that the Leader of the Opposition wanted to read out in the House an excerpt from the draft of former Army Chief Naravane’s book, ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, which mentions an incident from August 31, 2020. The memoir has not yet been published.