Naravane book row; Centre eyes 20-year post-retirement book writing ban for senior officials
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New Delhi: Amid controversy over a book by former Army Chief (Retd) Manoj Mukund Naravane, the Centre is set to impose a 20-year ban on senior officials—including military personnel—writing memoirs post-retirement. An official order on the cooling-off period is expected soon, sources told Hindustan Times.
Naravane's unpublished 'Four Stars of Destiny' has sparked political uproar in Parliament over revelations from the 2020 India-China clash in eastern Ladakh. It claims he informed PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about approaching Chinese troops, but awaited clearance for action—ultimately receiving orders to decide independently. Naravane served as Army Chief from 2019-2022.
The controversial book dominated Friday's Union Cabinet meeting. Several ministers insisted on mandatory cooling-off periods for those in power post-retirement. An official order on a 20-year cooling-off period is expected soon.
The Cabinet also discussed controversy over US Justice Department Epstein files linked to child abuser and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite ongoing opposition allegations, ministers decided against responding publicly. Hardeep Singh Puri, named in the files, clarified he cut ties upon learning of Epstein and never visited the infamous island.