NEW DELHI, Feb 1: The Congress on Sunday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify his alleged mentions in the recently released Epstein files from the US, which reportedly suggest that certain “monsters” had access to him.
K C Venugopal, Congress general secretary (organisation), said the disclosures raise serious questions about Modi’s susceptibility to foreign influence and access to individuals like Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex trafficker who died in custody in 2019.
He urged the prime minister to personally clarify whether he had met Epstein, sent someone on his behalf, or had any form of communication with him, emphasizing that the people of India deserve answers.
Venugopal also criticized Modi for allegedly aligning with “tainted” individuals to benefit foreign powers, arguing that India’s foreign policy should not be influenced by such actors.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera echoed the demand, questioning Modi’s connections around the 2019 elections and insisting on transparency regarding any dealings with Epstein.
The Epstein files comprise thousands of pages of documents from criminal investigations into sex trafficking by Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including travel logs, emails, and recordings, which have been a topic of global attention since Epstein’s death.
The BJP strongly rejected Congress’s claims, accusing it of spreading misinformation and twisting a generic email fragment into a political smear.
The party insisted there is no evidence of any direct or indirect interaction between Modi and Epstein.
The Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the references to Modi as “trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal” and said they should be rejected with the “utmost contempt.”
The controversy has intensified political tensions in India, with Congress pressing for answers and the BJP maintaining that the allegations are baseless and politically motivated. (PTI)
