‘Fact-Checking Claim Ridiculous’: Congress Slams Penguin Over Sonia Gandhi Book

The Congress on Friday, August 28, 2026, questioned Penguin Random House India (PRHI) over reports that its India division was unwilling to publish former party president Sonia Gandhi’s much-awaited memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love.

The party questioned why the concerns reportedly raised by Penguin Books over publishing the book in India did not arise when the memoir was being prepared for publication globally. The development comes after a report claimed that the Indian division of the global publishing group had decided against publishing the book amid alleged differences over editorial changes.

A Congress spokesperson said, “If Penguin Books can publish this book worldwide, then Penguin’s claim about fact-checking is ridiculous.” The party's remarks came in response to a statement from PRHI, which said that fact-checking and providing guidance in the best interests of an author’s book are both the right and responsibility of a publisher.

A report by The Indian Express claimed that PRHI had sought editorial changes to certain portions of the manuscript and wanted some passages removed, following which it decided against publishing the book. The report also said that Sonia Gandhi had refused to accept the publishers’ demands for the changes.

However, the Indian division of the global publishing group rejected the report. A company spokesperson said, “Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish Belonging because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances.” The spokesperson added that fact-checking and making recommendations to authors in the best interests of their books are part of a publisher’s rights and responsibilities.

“As a publisher, it is both our prerogative and our responsibility to fact check and provide authors with recommendations that are in the best interests of their books. This is a normal part of the publishing process,” the spokesperson said.

The company said that throughout the discussions, PRHI’s position was that it remained willing to publish the book. Penguin Random House India also said it would not comment further on its confidential discussions with the author.

The controversy concerns reports that Penguin Random House India (PRHI) is unwilling to publish former Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love,' in India. This is despite the book reportedly being prepared for global publication.

Congress questioned PRHI's stance, calling their fact-checking claims 'ridiculous' if the book could be published globally. The party criticized the alleged decision not to publish the book in India. PRHI rejected the reports, clarifying they are not the publisher of 'Belonging' in India.

They denied the decision was due to the author declining editorial changes and stated their willingness to publish.