NARAVANE DEFENDS GOVT'S HANDLING OF CHINA STANDOFF

Former Army Chief General M M Naravane clarifies government's China policy, denies allegations of military abandonment during 2020 border crisis

Govt Backed Armed Forces Fully: Naravane

Former Army Chief General M M Naravane has firmly rejected claims that the government abandoned the military during the 2020 China standoff, asserting instead that the Modi administration displayed complete confidence in the armed forces and granted them full operational authority to respond to ground-level threats, including permission to deploy lethal force if required.

The former military leader addressed the row surrounding his unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, which has become the subject of intense political controversy after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cited passages in Parliament and displayed the text on the assembly premises in early February.

The Prime Minister's Directive

Speaking to media outlets, including India Today, Naravane characterised the Prime Minister's statement—"Do what you think is right"—not as governmental indifference but as a reflection of the administration's unwavering belief in military judgment. "This comment reflected the government's complete confidence in the armed forces and should not be politicised," Naravane stated, adding that the forces were handed a "free hand to respond to the situation on the ground."

The clarification emerges as a counterweight to opposition allegations that the government withheld political direction during the critical August 31, 2020 incident, when Chinese tanks approached Indian positions at Rechin La in eastern Ladakh's Kailash Range.

Chronology of Events on August 31

According to accounts detailed in the book, the sequence of events unfolded with military precision across a three-hour window. At 8:15 pm, Northern Command chief Lieutenant General Yogesh Joshi reported that four Chinese tanks, backed by infantry units, were advancing toward a strategic mountain pass. Within minutes, Indian troops fired illumination shells in warning, a measure that proved ineffective.

As the situation escalated, Naravane briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for directive guidance. By 9:10 pm, Chinese forces had closed to within a kilometer of the pass. At 9:25 pm, a de-escalation proposal arrived from PLA Commander Major General Liu Lin, proposing mutual halt and a local-level command meeting.

The Critical 10:30 pm Call

The pivotal moment came at 10:30 pm when Defence Minister Singh called back after consulting the Prime Minister. Singh conveyed Modi's position: "Do what you deem appropriate." Naravane interpreted this as transfer of full responsibility to military command. "This was going to be a purely military decision. Modi was consulted. He was briefed, but he refused to take the decision. Now the entire responsibility rested on me," Naravane recounted in his memoir.

At that juncture, Chinese tanks had advanced to within 500 metres of the pass, with military assessments indicating that only medium artillery deployment could halt their progression.

Why The Book Stirred Controversy

Rahul Gandhi seized on the narrative in Parliament on February 2 and 3, framing the Prime Minister's statement as governmental abandonment of military leadership. Gandhi produced copies of the unpublished manuscript—a development that prompted the Defence Ministry to question its authenticity. Publisher Penguin Random House India subsequently stated that the book remains unpublished and no authorised copies exist in circulation, leaving Gandhi to counter with his own assertion of the document's validity.

Suspension of eight lawmakers followed the parliamentary uproar, yet the narrative has continued to dominate political discourse around civil-military relations and decision-making architecture during national security crises.

Views on Defence Ministry Clearance

When queried about his earlier book failing to receive Defence Ministry clearance, Naravane adopted a measured stance. "I do not believe there was anything particularly sensitive in my book, but if the government felt that certain aspects were not appropriate, then that is acceptable," he remarked, signalling deference to governmental oversight procedures.

On the India-China border situation itself, Naravane stressed a key accomplishment: preventing further escalation while preserving operational objectives. The two militaries remained face-to-face at critical positions, yet avoided the catastrophic scenario of direct kinetic warfare.

Position on Agnipath Scheme

Addressing broader defence policy matters, Naravane offered qualified support for the controversial Agnipath recruitment programme. "Whenever a new policy is introduced, it is discussed. I expressed my views clearly and frankly during those discussions. Once a decision is taken, it is our duty to implement it," he said, indicating that while military leaders may offer counsel during policy formulation, implementation remains non-negotiable once approved.

The former chief's tenure spanned 2019 to 2022, a period marked by heightened tensions on the northern frontier, strategic modernisation initiatives, and significant organisational restructuring within the armed forces hierarchy.