Union Minister Hardeep Puri Responds to Opposition Attacks Over Epstein Files
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has launched a strong rebuttal against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party regarding their repeated references to the infamous Jeffrey Epstein files. Puri emphasized that his interactions with Epstein were strictly professional and occurred only a handful of times before he joined the Union Cabinet.
Puri Clarifies Epstein Meetings Were Professional and Limited
At a press conference, Puri stated, "I want to remind you that today, during the Parliament session, my name was mentioned in the context of some developments elsewhere—the Epstein files. I just want to share some information... I want to clarify that these facts are all public." He detailed that the meetings took place between May 2009, when he served as India's Ambassador to the UN in New York, and 2017, before his ministerial appointment.
Puri explained further: "Three million emails have been released, covering this period. During this time, there are references to only three or four meetings, and my interactions were entirely professional, related to the Independent Commission on Multilateralism and other international work." He stressed that these details are already in the public domain and should not be misconstrued.
Sharp Criticism of Rahul Gandhi's Allegations
Taking a direct aim at Rahul Gandhi, whom he referred to as "yuva neta" (young leader), Puri highlighted the serious nature of the Epstein case. "Epstein Files, the Yuva Neta should know, are about wrongdoing, criminal offences. The Epstein Files are about charges that he had an island where he used to take people to indulge their sexual fantasies, charges of paedophilia, and there are victims of this. Those victims have brought cases against people in authority. My interaction had nothing to do with that," Puri asserted, distancing himself from the criminal aspects of the scandal.
Defense of India-US Trade Deal and Economic Growth
Amid ongoing criticism from the opposition over the India-US trade agreement, Puri defended the pact as the best possible under current global circumstances. He described it as "just a trailer," suggesting more positive developments to come. Additionally, Puri slammed Rahul Gandhi for echoing former US President Donald Trump's claim that India has a "dead economy."
Puri contrasted leadership styles: "On the one hand, you have leaders who dedicate their lives to transforming the country and work around the clock, and then you have elements of buffoonery. I am choosing my words carefully, elements of buffoonery. I did not call him (Rahul Gandhi) a buffoon; I said elements of buffoonery." This remark underscored his frustration with what he perceives as frivolous political attacks.
Key Points from Puri's Statements
- Puri met Jeffrey Epstein three or four times in a professional capacity as part of international commissions.
- These meetings occurred before 2017 and are documented in publicly released emails.
- He criticized Rahul Gandhi for linking him to Epstein's criminal activities, which involve serious charges like paedophilia.
- Puri defended the India-US trade deal as optimal given global challenges and labeled opposition claims as misguided.
- He accused Rahul Gandhi of displaying "elements of buffoonery" in his political rhetoric.
The exchange highlights escalating tensions between the government and opposition, with Puri positioning himself as a focused leader against what he views as baseless allegations and economic misinformation.
