New Delhi:
Congress leaders have claimed that Penguin Random House India has been “pressured” to drop Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, inviting a pointy response from the ruling BJP.
The confrontation started after Penguin Random Home India on Friday stated it was not the writer of the e-book, “Belonging: A Journey of Love“, days after American writer Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random Home, introduced that the memoir would launch on November 10. It stated it had been eager to publish the memoir all through “the related discussions”, however it’s their “prerogative and duty” to fact-check authors, an announcement that got here amid reviews that the main writer backed out after Sonia Gandhi refused “editorial” adjustments.
Gaurav Gogoi, Congress’ deputy chief in Lok Sabha, slammed Penguin India’s assertion and referred to as it “weak”.
“Such a weak assertion. Penguin India is very happy to publish ‘Examination Warriors’ and a number of other books on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) RSS. Little question there are these within the BJP authorities who’ve now grow to be afraid of a e-book being learn by the folks of India,” he wrote on X.
Such a weak assertion.
Penguin India is very happy to publish “Examination Warriors” and a number of other books on RSS.
Little question there are these within the BJP authorities who’ve now grow to be afraid of a e-book being being learn by the folks of India. https://t.co/JvmXD8FZV6
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) August 28, 2026
Senior Congress chief Ashok Gehlot requested Penguin Random Home India what was stopping it from publishing the memoir in India when it’s being printed worldwide by its imprint.
“Penguin Worldwide is able to publish Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji’s upcoming e-book worldwide in its unique type, however Penguin Random Home India desires adjustments made to launch it in India. In spite of everything, what’s the purpose or what stress is there that what’s being printed the world over can’t be printed in India?,” he posted on X.
Penguin Worldwide is able to publish Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji’s upcoming e-book worldwide in its unique type, however Penguin Random Home India desires adjustments made to launch it in India. In spite of everything, what’s the purpose or what stress is there that what’s being printed throughout the…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 28, 2026
“Suppressing the e-book of Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji, an individual of such stature, a senior chief of the nation, and former Chief of the Opposition, beneath stress is tantamount to the homicide of freedom of expression,” the previous Rajasthan chief minister added.
BJP’s Response
The BJP stated the Congress leaders have been attempting to “spin tales and manufacture a false narrative of worry” over the memoir.
These makes an attempt are “not merely ironic, they’re obviously hypocritical”, BJP’s nationwide spokesperson CR Kesavan stated.
“The moot level within the context of Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s memoirs is : which parts of her memoir warranted fact-checking and why so?,” he stated in response to Gogoi’s assertion.
The makes an attempt by Congress leaders to spin tales and manufacture a false narrative of worry over the discharge of Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s memoir should not merely ironic — they’re obviously hypocritical. Excerpts from the late Shri. Ok. Natwar Singh’s 2014 autobiography ‘One Life Is Not… pic.twitter.com/Jye8sbjXde
— C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) August 29, 2026
One other BJP chief Ajay Alok slammed Congress for “not putting details” within the e-book.
“It is not a matter of bowing down. It is a matter of disgrace that even in writing a e-book you aren’t putting details and figures. That is why publishers should not able to publish it. As a result of verification must be carried out, credibility must be maintained,” he stated.
RSS, China, PM Modi’s Work Amongst Main Flashpoints
Three units of passages in Sonia Gandhi’s memoir have been on the centre of discussions between the Congress chief and Penguin Random Home India earlier than the writer determined to not publish the e-book, Congress sources have informed NDTV.
The primary was the China border dispute. The e-book, the sources stated, offers prominently with Chinese language incursions into Indian territory and with the current scenario on the border.
The second concern was about Sonia Gandhi questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s management and dealing fashion, and a number of other main insurance policies of the central authorities, the sources stated.
The third is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the mother or father physique of the BJP and an organisation PM Modi labored in earlier than switching to full-time politics. The memoir carries her views on the affect of the RSS on nationwide affairs and on India’s social cloth, in line with sources.
When Penguin India proposed that sure passages be edited or eliminated, Sonia Gandhi declined, taking the place that the details and views within the e-book relaxation on her personal expertise and perspective and have been subsequently not open to alteration, they added.
