Rajasthan: Former CM Ashok Gehlot Alleges Pressure Behind Penguin India’s Withdrawal From Publishing Sonia Gandhi’s Book | VIDEO

Jaipur, August 29, 2026: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has accused the BJP-led central government of exerting pressure on Penguin India to withdraw its plans to publish former Congress leader and party president Sonia Gandhi's memoirs. Gehlot expressed surprise at Penguin India's decision to step back from publishing the book, despite the parent company being ready to publish it globally.

He alleged that there must have been some form of pressure involved in the decision, potentially coming from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Gehlot emphasized the importance of freedom of expression, stating that authors should have the right to express their views without being asked to remove passages. He drew a parallel to the ongoing "Save the Constitution" campaign led by Rahul Gandhi, arguing that protecting the Constitution also meant safeguarding democratic rights and people's voices.

The former chief minister highlighted that several publishing houses have already approached Sonia Gandhi with offers to publish her book, indicating significant interest among other publishers. He maintained that Sonia Gandhi would ultimately decide which publishing house to choose from among the offers she has received. Gehlot also criticized a recent article in the RSS-affiliated weekly Organiser, accusing the RSS of having a "Naxalite mindset" and of opposing the Constitution shortly after independence.