New Delhi . These days, there is intense discussion in political and military circles regarding the memoir book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane. Questions related to confidentiality and rules for retired military officers have again come into focus after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly read excerpts from this unpublished book.
What is the whole controversy?
General M.M. Naravane was the Army Chief from December 2019 to April 2022. He has written a memoir after his retirement. The book discusses the 2020 Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff and contains important details on sensitive topics like the Agneepath plan.
The book was scheduled to be released in January 2024, but the Defense Ministry and the Indian Army directed the publisher to halt publication until its review was completed. Currently the future of this book is in limbo as ‘clearance’ has not yet been received from the Ministry.
Rules for retired military officers
Senior military officers, especially those who have held sensitive positions, are bound by some strict rules.
Official Secrets Act (OSA): Under this, no officer can make public such information even after retirement which is a threat to national security.
Permission for publication: It is mandatory to obtain prior permission from the government before publishing any book or article containing confidential or sensitive information. Cooling-off period: There is a ‘cooling-off’ period of one year after retirement for taking up a job in the private or commercial sector.
Consequences for violation of rules
If any military officer violates these rules, the government can take strict action. A case can be filed against him under the Official Secrets Act. According to CCS (Pension) rules, part or the entire pension of the officer can be withheld if the rules are violated.
Mention of tension with China on LAC
Experts believe that if strategic information related to the 2020 standoff comes to light in this book, it could worsen the situation on the LAC with China again. In May-June 2020, there was a violent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley, in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. It was under the leadership of General Naravane that India started the process of withdrawing troops from many areas through retaliatory action and then military level talks.
At present the situation on the LAC is ‘thaw’ i.e. calm to some extent, but heavy military deployment from both sides still remains. 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 signal.
Rahul’s target on Prime Minister, Defense Minister
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, quoting some excerpts from the draft of the memoir of a former Army Chief in the House, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and alleged that the government is afraid that if the contents of the book come out, the country will come to know the reality of the two prominent BJP leaders and will also know what happened to the ’56 inch chest’ in front of China. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back at the former Congress president, saying he was trying to mislead the House by making “imaginary talk” and raising questions on the Army.
Rahul Gandhi also said that the country will also know what happened to the “56 inch chest” when the Chinese soldiers were advancing. He claimed that ‘Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh and the entire government are scared of just one line. I will speak that line in Parliament, no one will be able to stop me. Later, Rahul wrote on ‘X’, ‘The statement of the former Army Chief will expose how Modi ji and Rajnath ji have disappointed the army. They are not allowing me to speak in Parliament due to fear of being exposed. Congress says that the Leader of Opposition wanted to read in the House an excerpt from the draft of former Army Chief Naravane’s book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ in which an incident of August 31, 2020 is mentioned. This memoir has not been published yet.