The release of a new batch of Epstein files has sparked a major political controversy in India, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been “compromised” and calling upon him to “come clean” on the matter.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament complex after repeated adjournments of the Lok Sabha amid Opposition protests, Gandhi linked the Epstein files to what he described as the Prime Minister’s “sudden” signing of the India–US trade deal. He alleged that the agreement had remained stalled for months and was cleared without any substantive changes.
“The trade deal was stuck for four months. Nothing changed. But for reasons that Mr. Modi and I both know, he signed it last evening,” Gandhi said, claiming that the Prime Minister was facing “immense pressure.”
The Leader of Opposition alleged that he was not being allowed to speak in Parliament because he intended to raise sensitive issues, including the Epstein files.
“The Prime Minister is too afraid to let me speak about Naravane, the Epstein files, and how he has surrendered on tariffs,” Gandhi said.
A day after the controversy erupted, Gandhi authenticated a copy of an article cited in the Lok Sabha that referred to unpublished portions of former Army chief M.M. Naravane’s memoir on the 2020 India-China standoff. He reiterated that the Prime Minister was under pressure from two major fronts — the Epstein files and an ongoing case involving industrialist Gautam Adani in the United States.
“The main thing is that our Prime Minister has been compromised,” Gandhi said. “The people of India need to think who has done this and why.”
He further alleged that the Epstein files contain additional information that has not yet been made public. “There is more material in the Epstein files that the entire country wants to know about, but the US has not released it,” he claimed.
According to Gandhi, the alleged US case against Adani and the Epstein files represent “two pressure points” affecting the Prime Minister. “They are not just targeting Adani. They are targeting the financial structure of Narendra Modi and the BJP,” he said.
The controversy has triggered a wider political backlash in India, with Congress leaders demanding clarity from the Prime Minister calling on Modi to “come clean” on the matter.
