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What is the Sonia Gandhi memoir controversy? As Congress plays ‘victim card’, publisher sets the record straight

Penguin Random House said that throughout its discussions over the book, it remained “willing and keen” to publish the memoir. This directly challenges the Congress narrative that the publishing house simply refused to publish the book because of political pressure.

Shriti Sagar
Congress has alleged that BJP pressure is behind Penguin Random House India’s decision not to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love in India.
Congress alleges ‘BJP pressure’ over Sonia Gandhi memoir row (Image via X and INC)

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s upcoming memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, was scheduled for international release on 10th November through Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. However, the book has now become the centre of a political controversy after Penguin Random House India clarified that it is not the publisher of the memoir in India.

The clarification came on Friday, 28th August, after reports said Penguin Random House India had decided not to publish the book in India following the discrepancies in the fact-checking process. 

Congress leaders have since alleged that the publisher was being pressured by the BJP to drop the memoir or seek changes in it. Penguin, however, has given a different explanation, saying that fact-checking and recommendations to authors are a normal part of the publishing process and that it had remained “willing and keen” to publish the book.

Congress alleges BJP pressure over Sonia Gandhi’s memoir

The controversy began after Penguin Random House India said it was not the publisher of ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’ in India. The development came days after Alfred A. Knopf announced the international publication of the memoir.

Congress leaders quickly questioned the decision and alleged that the publisher was facing pressure because of the political content of the book. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot asked why the Indian arm of Penguin would not publish the memoir when the book was being released internationally by its global imprint.

“Penguin Worldwide is ready to publish Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji’s upcoming book worldwide in its original form, but Penguin Random House India wants changes made to launch it in India. After all, what is the reason or what pressure is there, that what is being published across the world cannot be published in India?” Gehlot wrote on X.

Despite the clear reason from the publisher, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi also criticised Penguin’s clarification and described it as a “weak statement”. He pointed to books such as Exam Warriors and books about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) being published by Penguin India and alleged that the publishing house was now afraid of the ruling party.

“Such a weak statement. Penguin India is more than happy to publish ‘Exam Warriors’ and several books on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). No doubt there are those in the BJP government who have now become afraid of a book being read by the people of India,” Gogoi wrote.

Congress Seva Dal chief B.V. Srinivas also attacked the publishing house, accusing it of compromising its editorial independence. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, meanwhile, called the decision a matter of “grave concern” and questioned whether it had been taken independently, indirectly feeding into the Congress’s victim narrative that the BJP was behind the decision. 

Congress leaders have also claimed that some passages concerning China, the RSS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his policies were among the portions discussed during the manuscript process. 

Penguin Random House India said book is not factually ready to be published

Amid the political allegations, Penguin Random House India issued a clarification on X, explaining its position. The publishing house said that it is not the publisher of the book in India.

The publisher explained that, as part of its normal publishing process, it is both its “prerogative and its responsibility” to fact-check material and provide authors with recommendations that are considered to be in the best interests of their books.

Fact-checking, according to Penguin, is therefore not an unusual step or an indication that a book is being politically blocked. The publisher said such checks and editorial recommendations are part of the normal process before a manuscript is published.

More importantly, Penguin said that throughout its discussions over the book, it remained “willing and keen” to publish the memoir. This directly challenges the Congress narrative that the publishing house simply refused to publish the book because of political pressure.

Publisher says fact-checking is part of the normal process

The key issue in the controversy is therefore the distinction between fact-checking a manuscript and refusing to publish it.

Penguin’s explanation is that it reviewed the material, carried out fact-checking and gave recommendations to the author. The company has not said that the memoir was permanently rejected or that it was unwilling to publish it. Instead, it has maintained that it was interested in publishing the book.

This means that the publisher’s explanation does not establish the Congress allegation that the BJP pressured it to drop Sonia Gandhi’s memoir. 

BJP rejects Congress’ allegations

The BJP has rejected the Congress allegations of political pressure and accused the party of trying to create a narrative of fear around the memoir. BJP national spokesperson C.R. Kesavan said Congress leaders were trying to “spin stories and manufacture a false narrative of fear” over the book. He also called the allegations “not merely ironic; they are glaringly hypocritical”.

Kesavan questioned the issue at the centre of the controversy and asked, “The moot point in the context of Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s memoirs is: which portions of her memoir warranted fact-checking and why so?”

The BJP has argued that if a publisher itself says fact-checking is a normal part of the publishing process, then the focus should be on the portions that required verification rather than on allegations of political pressure.

BJP leader Ajay Alok also attacked the Congress over the controversy, saying the issue was not about a publisher “bowing down” but about whether the contents of the memoir could be verified. “It’s not a matter of bowing down. It’s a matter of shame that even in writing a book you are not placing facts and figures. That’s why publishers are not ready to publish it. Because verification has to be done, credibility has to be maintained,” he said.

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao similarly argued that the request for fact-checking raised questions about the claims made in the memoir. He said the controversy showed why readers would also need to examine the claims made in the book carefully.

BJP leader Amit Malviya also took a sarcastic dig at the controversy, questioning why a memoir written by Sonia Gandhi herself required fact-checking.

“It is rather amusing that Penguin Random House India felt the need to fact-check Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, a book authored by Sonia Gandhi herself,” Malviya said. He added that Penguin had described fact-checking as a normal part of publishing and had said it remained “willing and keen” to publish the book.

Malviya then asked what exactly required verification, saying, “What exactly needed fact-checking — the author’s memories, or the blurred line between fact and fiction?”

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Shriti Sagar
Shriti Sagar
Journalist

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