New Delhi: Former Army Chief MM Naravane on Friday said the armed forces must stay away from political narratives, stressing the importance of institutional neutrality. His remarks come amid an ongoing controversy linked to his unpublished memoir.
Speaking to reporters, Naravane said the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have maintained a tradition of staying apolitical. “The armed forces should be kept as far away from politics as possible. The Indian armed forces pride themselves on being a very apolitical Army, Navy, Air Force,” he said.
He added that this approach strengthens India’s democratic structure. “If you see what is happening in the country’s periphery, it is a strength that we have never even sought to get involved in political matters and that’s what makes our country strong. That’s what makes our democracy strong, that we are one of the pillars of governance, along with the judiciary and the press. This is a strong pillar on which the country is doing so well.”
Clarifies individual rights of personnel
Naravane said institutional neutrality does not restrict personal freedoms. “But that does not mean that we cannot have our own political affiliations, that we cannot cast our vote. You have to differentiate between the organisation and the individual. As an organisation, we are totally apolitical. But as individuals, we have full democratic rights to cast our vote.”
Row over remarks in Parliament
The comments come after a controversy triggered by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who referred to excerpts from Naravane’s unpublished memoir during a Parliament session. Gandhi used the material to question the government’s handling of the 2020 India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh and alleged gaps in political direction.
The government objected to the use of unpublished material in the Lok Sabha, saying unauthenticated content cannot be cited. The issue led to repeated disruptions and sharp exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches.
Memoir dispute and investigation
Publisher Penguin Random House said the book, Four Stars of Destiny, has not been released in any form and warned against circulation of excerpts. Delhi Police registered an FIR and launched a probe into alleged leaks.
Naravane backed the publisher’s stand and said he did not want the matter to be politicised. He said it was unfair to involve the armed forces in political debates and rejected claims that the government failed him during the Ladakh crisis.
Naravane served as the 28th Chief of Army Staff from December 2019 to April 2022 and led the Army during the standoff with China.