The Epstein files might open a Pandora’s Box– and the Indian angles are getting curiouser and curiouser. The silence on the part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi vis-à-vis the repeated citation of his name in the millions of pages is only matched by the silence from those who have access to the full documents vis-à-vis the top Indian leader. The only straight reference so far is to a meeting the PM held with Israeli leaders, suspectedly at the bidding of President Donald Trump. No other allegation of any scandalous involvement of the PM with Epstein has surfaced. One who met Epstein repeatedly was present Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who argues those meetings had taken place when he was the Indian envoy in the US; not as a member of the Modi ministry. He also rubbishes Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for indulgence in “innuendo and smear campaign.” Things, however, are not as simple as that. The Opposition leader is within his rights to hold forth on such matters of public interest and national importance.
Notably, the link that prominent industrialist Anil Ambani maintained with Epstein has also raised eyebrows, also for the reason that he maintained good relations with Modi. Yet, nothing yet goes to show that he acted at the behest of the PM – unless fresh information surfaces. A top Indian businessman or diplomat having liaisons with a high-flying financier and child-abuser like Epstein with big connections, including with the likes of Donald Trump, is nothing to scoff at. Trump himself has been a business honcho for decades. By all accounts, the likes of Bill Gates, once the world’s richest, too fell into Epstein’s trap. This, thus, has turned out to be an epic scandal. The Opposition is thus more justified in raising these issues in Parliament, but their attempts to have a discussion have been stonewalled by the resolute treasury benches and the Lok Sabha speaker too. Chances are that more revelations are forthcoming from the Epstein files in the coming weeks, or in due course of time. A Damocles’ sword hangs on the heads of several top personalities, some of whom like Britain’s ex-Prince Andrew are already in deep waters and would likely face police investigations. Trump himself may have the wherewithal to protect himself from any harm.
While it must be emphasized that nothing incriminating about the Indian PM has been cited in reports so far, vis-à-vis the Epstein scandal, the matter does not stop there. Fears have been expressed that President Trump, who has access to the full document, is browbeating the Indian PM. Rahul Gandhi says there’s fear on Modi’s face. The signing of the trade pact between India and the US itself has come under a shadow, with the Opposition raising its eyebrows in this context. It was evident during the Operation Sindoor too that Trump had exerted undue influence on Modi, obviously leading to the abrupt end of the India-Pakistan standoff. A lack of clarity still persists about the way the military operation ended, without achieving its full objective. The reasons behind such decisions are still under a cloud. While the nation demands an explanation, this, however is not forthcoming.
