New Delhi: During the motion of thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha today, Rahul Gandhi began his speech by thanking him for 'giving him time to speak'. There was a ruckus during his speech when he quoted an unpublished book by former Army Chief MM Naravane and claimed that according to the book, Chinese tanks had reached very close to the Indian border in Doklam.
As soon as Rahul Gandhi said this, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who was sitting opposite, objected and said that the book that Rahul Gandhi is referring to has not been published yet. He challenged that if the book has been published, it should be presented in the House.
After this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the information that Rahul Gandhi is referring to is actually a magazine report, and not the Army Chief's own words. He said that a book which has not been published cannot be cited in the House, after which Speaker Om Birla clarified that only certified documents or newspaper clippings can be read in the House. He instructed Rahul Gandhi to follow the rules.
After this, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav supported Rahul Gandhi and said that the China issue is a sensitive matter related to the country's security, so it should be discussed. Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Army Chief's book is being deliberately not allowed to be published, while the government has termed it a violation of the rules.