New Delhi: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday issued a strong rebuttal to allegations raised by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha linking him to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Dismissing the claims as baseless, Puri accused Gandhi of making irresponsible statements and leaving the House without staying to hear the government’s response.
‘Irresponsible Politics,’ Says Puri
Without naming Rahul Gandhi directly at first, Puri criticised what he described as a pattern of conduct by certain political leaders. He drew a distinction between “those who dedicate their lives to elevating India from the world’s tenth-largest economy to the third-largest” and “those who visit the country occasionally, deliver speeches in Parliament, and then exit without listening to the reply.”
The remarks were widely seen as a pointed reference to the Congress leader, whose speech in the House had triggered the exchange.
Clarification on Email Allegations
Responding specifically to allegations raised by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate regarding certain emails, Puri offered a detailed explanation concerning his tenure as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations between 2009 and 2013.
Professional Engagements: Puri stated that after his retirement from diplomatic service, he had received an invitation to join the International Peace Institute (IPI). In that capacity, he may have encountered Epstein during a few official interactions involving representatives linked to IPI or related forums. He emphasised that any such meetings were strictly professional.
Email Correspondence: Addressing the email in question, Puri said that in 2014, when he was a private citizen, he had sent an email to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. He acknowledged that Epstein may have been copied on the correspondence but maintained that this did not indicate any substantive association.
‘Nothing to Hide’
The minister further asserted that nearly three million emails are already in the public domain and insisted there was nothing to conceal. He clarified that Epstein was not part of the International Peace Institute or the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICM, as alleged in some reports), though he may have shown interest in international affairs.
The government maintains that the allegations are politically motivated and lack factual basis. With tempers flaring on both sides, the confrontation in Parliament is expected to intensify in the coming days.
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