BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday alleged that the Union government has undermined democracy by repeatedly seeking to silence Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament, especially over questions related to national security and the Indo-Sino border issues.
In an assertive message posted on X, he highlighted some select portions of the unpublished book by former Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, and pointed out that the actions suggest attempts to suppress the truth. Siddaramaiah’s statement comes at a time when there is an uproar, especially from Congress leaders who were offended that Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to raise the issue in Parliament.
Siddaramaiah said Rahul lifted excerpts from the book, which was scheduled for release in 2024, but has been withheld by the government, leading to allegations of censorship. Siddaramaiah said General Naravane has not denied the contents of the book, and only said it is awaiting official clearance.
Siddaramaiah tweeted, “The Modi government’s repeated attempts to silence the Leader of Opposition in Parliament are deeply troubling and strike at the heart of India’s democracy. Shri @RahulGandhi raised legitimate questions on national security based on excerpts from ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, the book authored by former Army Chief MM Naravane. The book, originally slated for release in 2024, remains unpublished because it is being withheld by the Government of India.
The excerpts were quoted in a recent article by The Caravan magazine. Importantly, General Naravane has not denied the contents attributed to him. On the contrary, he has publicly acknowledged that his book is awaiting government clearance.
If these statements were inaccurate or misleading, the government could have issued a clear denial. Its decision, instead, to withhold the book and silence discussion only deepens the suspicion that uncomfortable truths are being suppressed.