Congress alleges Penguin India succumbed to ‘pressure’ to demand changes in Sonia memoir
Congress leader Ashok Gehlot claims Penguin India sought to remove sections critical of the PM, the RSS, and China’s “occupation“ of Indian land; says Penguin Worldwide was willing to publish the book unchanged for global audience
On Friday, August 28, 2026, Congress leaders accused Penguin Random House India of succumbing to pressure in relation to the publication of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. Senior party leader Ashok Gehlot alleged that the publisher sought to remove passages critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and China's alleged occupation of Indian territory.
The Congress responded to Penguin Random House India's statement, which stated that "fact-checking and editorial recommendations" are part of its standard publishing process. The publisher claimed that any changes made during this process were routine. Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber Comments had to be in English and in full sentences, and they were not allowed to be abusive or personal. The community guidelines encouraged users to abide by these rules while posting their comments.
The Hindu reported on the matter, noting the accusations made by Congress leaders and the publisher's response. Users could access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
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