Penguin India rejects Sonia Gandhi autobiography after fact‑check

Chennai, September 1 – In a statement that followed a BJP critique, Penguin Random House India reiterated its earlier decision not to publish Sonia Gandhi’s autobiography, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’. The publisher clarified that the refusal was based on a comprehensive fact‑checking exercise rather than any political pressure.

Narayanan Tirupathi, the BJP’s state spokesperson, said the publisher must have found several passages in the manuscript that were either inaccurate or contrary to India’s national interest. He argued that publishers have an ethical duty to verify claims before they reach the public.

"When facts are in dispute, the right course is to withdraw the book," Tirupathi told IANS, insisting that the move was purely procedural.

The Indian arm of the global publishing house had earlier dismissed rumors that the book was dropped because Gandhi declined to make editorial changes. Instead, it said it was willing to publish the memoir provided that the content passed its factual scrutiny.

With Penguin stepping back, other firms such as Harcourt India are reportedly in talks to secure the rights, while the US imprint Alfred A. Knopf announced a November 10 release for the international market.