Rahul Gandhi-Centre clash over Ladakh leads to suspension of eight Congress MPs

Parliament witnessed major disruptions on Tuesday after Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi attempted for a second consecutive day to read excerpts from former Army chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished book on the 2020 India-China military standoff in Ladakh.

The Speaker denied permission, citing House rules, triggering protests by opposition MPs and forcing the Lok Sabha to adjourn for the day.

Amid the uproar, eight Congress MPs, including Hibi Eden, Amarinder Raja Warring, and Manickam Tagor, were suspended for the remainder of the session.

There were reports of MPs tearing papers and throwing them towards the Chair during the protest. Warring later said the suspension was unjustified, arguing Gandhi had authenticated the document and submitted it to the House.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused Gandhi of insulting Parliament and Indian soldiers, alleging the Congress was creating disorder after the presentation of the Union Budget. He said the BJP would file a formal complaint seeking strict action against the suspended MPs.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi accused the ruling BJP of trying to silence him on the India-China border issue. He said he had authenticated the excerpts and questioned why the government was afraid of the book. Some opposition MPs from the Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress refused to speak when called upon, expressing solidarity.

Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recently announced India-US trade deal, questioning how negotiations that had stalled for months were concluded overnight. He alleged the agreement compromised Indian farmers. Government sources rejected the claim, saying agriculture and dairy sectors remain protected and no details of the commitments have yet been made public.