Jaipur, September 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has alleged that Penguin withdrew from publishing Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming autobiography under pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office or the central government.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Gehlot accused Penguin of “prevaricating and making excuses” over its decision and claimed that the publisher’s global parent organisation remained willing to publish the book in other markets.
“If the book can be published globally, why can’t it be published in India?” Gehlot asked, arguing that Penguin’s stated reasons for withdrawing from the Indian publication had been exposed.
He also alleged that the government had not responded to claims of pressure from the PMO or the central government, describing the alleged silence as a “tacit admission” of his charge.
Defending Sonia Gandhi’s political record, Gehlot said she was not an ordinary political leader. He highlighted her 22-year tenure as Congress president, her role as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and her tenure as chairperson of the National Advisory Council during the UPA government.
Gehlot also credited the UPA era with major initiatives including the Right to Education Act, Food Security Act, Right to Information Act and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
He spoke at length about Sonia Gandhi’s personal journey and her association with the Nehru-Gandhi family. Referring to the assassinations of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and later former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Gehlot said Sonia Gandhi had suffered major personal losses before eventually agreeing to enter active Congress leadership at the request of party leaders.
Responding to criticism over Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origins, Gehlot said such distinctions become irrelevant when a person dedicates themselves to a country they have adopted as their own. He argued that her political contribution should be judged by her work and long public career.
Gehlot further claimed that some people associated with the RSS and BJP privately admire Sonia Gandhi’s personality and achievements, despite not acknowledging it publicly.
He described Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming autobiography as an important opportunity for her to present her own account of her life and political journey. According to Gehlot, the book will also seek to address what he described as misconceptions and allegations concerning Sonia Gandhi and the Nehru-Gandhi family during the years of NDA rule.
Gehlot said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had maintained restraint despite repeated political attacks and allegations against them.
On the change in publisher, Gehlot said several major publishing houses approached the authors soon after reports emerged of Penguin’s withdrawal. He said the development was therefore not unexpected and asserted that the book would be printed and released on November 10.
His remarks come amid continuing political controversy over the publication of Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming autobiography and Penguin’s reported withdrawal from the Indian edition.
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