New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) In light of the controversy surrounding the unreleased book 'Four Stars of Destiny' by retired Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane, the BJP claimed on Wednesday that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, along with other 'fake' leaders, is misleading the nation by spreading false narratives.

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh stated to IANS, “To appease foreign powers, Rahul Gandhi and other fake leaders are misguiding the nation with lies. The author of that book and the publisher have made it clear that the book has not been released. But fake leader Rahul Gandhi, in his attempt to gain cheap popularity using a foreign toolkit, is staging a dramatic act far removed from reality. He should issue a public apology to the nation.”

BJP MP Damodar Agrawal remarked, “The situation is straightforward. The book has not been published. The Defence Minister has confirmed this in Parliament. If anyone claims otherwise, they should clarify whether it is published or not. Following that, legal action will ensue.”

BJP National Spokesperson C.R. Kesavan also criticized the Congress party, stating, “Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s fake and fraudulent book bomb has been fully exposed. The deception of the Congress party’s underhand tactics has been unmasked by the former Army chief’s tweet reiterating the publisher’s position that the book remains unpublished.”

Conversely, CPI(M) MP Amra Ram questioned the government's approach to the issue. “Whether this event actually occurred or not, consult Naravane. You spoke to the Defence Minister and Home Minister in 2023. The way the government is behaving suggests they are unwilling to heed the people's voice. The Leader of Opposition is being silenced,” he stated.

Amra Ram added, “I have been a member of the Rajasthan Assembly for two decades. The Leader of Opposition and even the Defence Minister are not bound by time restrictions. They have the opportunity to raise issues and present the opposition's concerns whenever they choose.”

Eight days after his unpublished memoir sparked a political uproar, former Army Chief General (retired) Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday spoke on the contentious autobiography. He supported his publisher’s stance that the book has not been released and that no copies have been “printed, distributed, sold or otherwise made available to the public” in either print or digital format.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi responded on Tuesday to Penguin Random House India’s statement regarding the memoir, which has become the center of a fierce political clash in Parliament between the ruling BJP and the opposition.

Penguin Random House India confirmed on Tuesday that it holds the exclusive publishing rights and that the manuscript has yet to be published in any form. The publishing house clarified its position following reports indicating that unauthorized copies were circulating.

The controversy has ignited a heated debate in Parliament, with the BJP accusing the Congress party of disseminating misinformation, while opposition leaders are demanding clarity on the contents and circumstances surrounding the book.

Naravane served as Army Chief from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022—a period characterized by increased military activity in eastern Ladakh due to tensions along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC).