A fresh political confrontation erupted after the Opposition claimed that recently released “Epstein files” contain references to PM Narendra Modi, prompting demands for a statement from the Prime Minister and an immediate discussion in Parliament. The Union government dismissed the allegations as “baseless”, insisting that the disclosures are being selectively interpreted to cast aspersions on a routine diplomatic engagement.
The Epstein files which are a set of documents unsealed by a US court in January 2026 as part of proceedings linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, comprise depositions, testimonies and correspondence cited during investigations into Epstein’s network. The documents list numerous names mentioned during proceedings, without establishing guilt or wrongdoing. Several global figures named in the material have denied any improper conduct.
Congress general secretary in charge of organisation, K.C. Venugopal, said in a post on X, ” “The new batch of #EpsteinFiles is a chilling wake-up call. They raise disturbing questions about the kind of compromised individuals who had access to Prime Minister Modi, and how vulnerable he may be to foreign influence. The Congress demands that the Prime Minister personally come clean. Has he ever met Jeffrey Epstein, or authorised anyone to do so? What conversations took place, and in whose interest? At a time when India’s foreign policy was undergoing major shifts, reports suggest the Prime Minister was ‘dancing and singing’ to the tunes of tainted figures like Epstein to benefit foreign powers. The people of India deserve clear, honest answers.”
The Congress has seized on references it claims relate to the Prime Minister’s 2017 visit to Israel, alleging that the files raise questions about individuals and interactions linked to that period. “An email dated 9 July 2017, allegedly written by Epstein, refers to meetings involving Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the US President, and a subsequent official visit to Israel. These claims are now circulating globally, raising serious questions and speculation. This House cannot remain silent when such issues are being debated internationally, and the Government has not provided a clear, categorical, and authoritative explanation,” Congress MP Manickam Tagore said in the parliament.
The government has categorically rejected this interpretation. The Ministry of External Affairs said the Israel trip was a landmark, officially documented bilateral visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister focused on defence cooperation, agriculture, water management and innovation. “Any attempt to draw insinuations from unrelated foreign court documents is misleading and irresponsible,” the MEA said, underlining that the visit’s itinerary and engagements are in the public domain.
The Opposition, however, has intensified pressure. Rahul Gandhi demanded that the Prime Minister “come clean” and accused the government of avoiding accountability. He said Parliament had the right to debate any matter in which the head of government’s name appears in an international disclosure, irrespective of legal conclusions. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the demand, asserting that silence from the top only fuels speculation and mistrust.
Congress leaders moved adjournment motions in both Houses, seeking a formal discussion. Other Opposition figures backed the call, framing it as an issue of transparency and democratic convention rather than criminality. The ruling party countered by accusing the Congress of “manufacturing controversy” out of documents that do not make allegations against Indian officials and of attempting to derail Parliament with insinuations drawn from foreign legal proceedings. The Speaker and the Chair were compelled to intervene repeatedly as adjournment motions were moved and countered, reflecting the deep polarisation surrounding the issue.
The episode adds another layer to an already charged political climate, where global disclosures quickly morph into domestic flashpoints. While the Centre has drawn a firm line, rejecting any linkage between the Epstein material and India’s diplomatic record, the Opposition has signalled that it intends to keep the issue alive on the parliamentary floor. For now, the clash underscores how international documents untested in Indian forums can become front-line political weapons at home.
