Can MPs Quote Books In Parliament? Rule 349 Explained Amid Rahul Gandhi-Centre Clash

Last Updated:February 02, 2026, 19:55 IST

Amid the uproar in the Lok Sabha, the controversy centred on whether Rahul Gandhi was permitted to cite material drawn from an unpublished memoir on India-China border tensions. 

Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

A massive uproar in Lok Sabha on Monday over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s reference to the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane brought attention to a parliamentary provision, Rule 349 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.

Amid the political clashes, the controversy centred on whether Gandhi was permitted to cite material drawn from an unpublished memoir on India-China border clashes.

The issue arose during the debate on the President’s Address, when Gandhi began his speech by quoting from a magazine article that referred to passages from Four Stars of Destiny, an unpublished memoir attributed to General Naravane.

Treasury bench members objected, arguing that citing an unpublished book violated parliamentary rules.

Speaker Om Birla intervened, invoking Rule 349 and directing Gandhi not to read from such material unless it was authenticated or formally placed before the House.

What Does Rule 349 Say?

Rule 349 lays down standards of conduct and procedure that Members of Parliament are expected to follow during debates.

Clause (i) of the rule states that “a member shall not read any book, newspaper or letter except in connection with the business of the House."

In effect, the rule restricts MPs from freely quoting external material unless it is directly relevant to the subject under discussion and conforms to parliamentary conventions.

The intent is to prevent the House from becoming a forum for unverified claims, private publications or sensitive content that has not been officially tabled.

Former Lok Sabha Secretary General PDT Achary explained that Rule 349 is the key provision governing the quoting of external material.

According to him, MPs are generally allowed to cite newspaper or magazine reports provided they can stand by the authenticity of the information.

No prior notice is required, he noted, adding that debates on the President’s Address are broad in nature and allow members to raise a wide range of issues.

Why Was The Rule Invoked In This Case?

The objection from the treasury benches stemmed from the fact that Gandhi referred not only to a magazine article but also to an unpublished memoir of a former Army Chief, a matter they argued could have implications for national security and parliamentary propriety.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah maintained that unpublished material could not be cited in the House.

Speaker Om Birla ruled that magazine or newspaper articles unrelated to the immediate business of the House could not be quoted, reiterating that debates must be conducted strictly in accordance with established rules.

The ruling led to repeated interruptions and adjournments.

Gandhi, however, defended his reference, insisting that his sources were authentic. Questioning the objections, he asked what in the material was causing such concern and argued that if there was nothing to hide, he should be allowed to continue.

When stopped from directly quoting the article or the memoir, he sought permission to describe its contents without attribution, but this too was disallowed.

Does Rule 349 Impose A Blanket Ban?

Parliamentary experts say Rule 349 does not amount to an absolute prohibition on referring to books, newspapers or reports.

Members may cite such material if it is relevant to the discussion, does not breach privilege or national security concerns, and adheres to convention.

Ultimately, the Speaker has the final authority to decide whether a particular reference is admissible.

In today’s proceedings, the Chair’s ruling, and the disagreement over its interpretation, turned Rule 349 into the focal point of a wider political confrontation.

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