On August 1, 2025, Parliament saw a dramatic clash over quoting from books. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh blocked opposition leader Rahul Gandhi from quoting passages from an unpublished book by former army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane. This book exposes how India's response to a tense China border situation was handled. The book, titled Four Stars of Destiny, was written over a year ago but its publication is still blocked by the Defence Ministry. Rahul Gandhi aimed to show that the Modi government's tough image on China was fake, citing moments when Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared reluctant to confront China. Naravane describes an alarming night in August 2020 when Chinese tanks moved towards an Indian position in Ladakh. Indian commanders sought clear orders but got none for hours. Finally, Modi instructed: “Jo uchit samjho, woh karo” (“Do whatever you deem appropriate”). Naravane wrote, “I had been handed a hot potato.” Rajnath Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla insisted it was against parliamentary rules to quote from the unpublished book or even describe its content. This contrasts with the minister's earlier use of extracts from Ajay Bisaria’s book on Pakistan, shared publicly without issues. The book reveals gaps in government response during the border clash. Former army chief Naravane made frantic calls to the Defence Minister, National Security Adviser, and others but got no clear direction. The Indian soldiers tried warning shots to stop Chinese tanks but the advance continued. This parliamentary episode exposes tensions in India's handling of sensitive defence issues and political battles over national security narratives. The Defence Ministry has yet to clear Naravane’s book for publication despite multiple requests. The controversy raises questions about government transparency and responsibility in high-stakes military decisions.