Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Saturday said a publishing house that “compromises its spine compromises democracy itself,” reacting to reports that Penguin Random House India had decided not to publish Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister described the development as “institutional cowardice” and “deeply concerning.” The Chief Minister’s reaction came on the heels of reports that the publishing house was dropping Belonging: A Journey of Love, Ms. Gandhi’s autobiography.

The Chief Minister said that this “institutional cowardice” is the direct fallout of a Central government that “governs through intimidation” and is terrified of the unvarnished truth. When a global publisher can release a book worldwide in its original form, why the sudden urge to censor and edit facts in India, he said.

Mr. Satheesan went on to add that truth cannot be “edited away to appease those in power.” Suppressing facts only exposes the fear of accountability and transparency. In a thriving democracy, facts must be met with debate, not institutional capitulation, he said.

A publishing house that compromises its spine compromises democracy itself.

The decision by Penguin Random House India regarding Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji’s memoir, is deeply concerning. When a global publisher can release a book worldwide in its original form, why the sudden urge to… https://t.co/1CIPWV1lfB

— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) August 29, 2026

Published – August 29, 2026 05:43 pm IST