4 min learnNew DelhiAug 29, 2026 12:12 PM IST
First printed on: Aug 28, 2026 at 09:43 PM IST
Senior Congress leaders on Friday alleged that Penguin India was pressured to take away from Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “parts associated to Modi, RSS, and the occupation of Indian territory by China throughout Modi’s rule”.
This got here a day after The Indian Express first reported that Penguin Random Home India wouldn’t publish Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: a Journey of Love, within the nation. The report stated the writer needed sure “editorial modifications and deletions” in “part of the manuscript”, however Gandhi refused. The discharge, scheduled for November 10, was first introduced by US-based writer Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group that could be a division of Penguin Random Home.
“The primary factor that the writer needed to be edited or eliminated is about China and Modi and the RSS,” former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot advised The Indian Specific. “It’s due to authorities intervention. They need to end off the liberty of expression of a person. She is such a tall chief, has been the LoP (Chief of Opposition) and NAC (Nationwide Advisory Council) chairperson. She is writing details; she just isn’t writing a narrative. It’s about her life and experiences. How are you going to deny details and censor details?”
Gehlot added that he had not “seen or learn” the manuscript and hadn’t spoken to Gandhi about it.
Penguin’s assertion
In a press release, Penguin Random Home India admitted it was not the writer of ‘Belonging’ in India. “Any suggestion that Penguin Random Home India determined to not publish ‘Belonging’ as a result of the writer declined editorial modifications doesn’t precisely mirror the circumstances.
“As a writer, it’s each our prerogative and our accountability to reality examine and supply authors with suggestions which can be in one of the best pursuits of their books. This can be a regular a part of the publishing course of. All through the related discussions, Penguin Random Home India’s place was that we remained keen and eager to publish the e-book.
“We won’t remark additional on confidential discussions with the writer.”
Earlier within the day, Gehlot posted on X, “In any case, what’s the cause or what stress is there that what’s being printed the world over can’t be printed in India? Sonia Gandhi ji’s life is an instance of sacrifice and dedication. The integrity and dignity with which she has served the nation is exemplary.”
Former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath additionally weighed in on the controversy, saying the writer’s determination “is a matter of maximum concern”.
“Will the writer resolve what a senior determine like Mrs Gandhi will write and what she won’t? The query additionally arises whether or not the writer is saying this by itself or if there’s stress from somebody on it? Even earlier than this, the publication of some necessary books has been stopped below suspicious circumstances. I take into account this sort of development a critical risk to the liberty of expression. The publication of Mrs Gandhi’s autobiography ought to occur quickly,” he wrote on X.
With Penguin India out, a number of Indian publishers are actually within the fray and HarperCollins is reported to be near finalising the settlement to publish and distribute the e-book in India.
