Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Demands Hardeep Puri Resignation Over “Epstein Files” Fallout

New Delhi, February 13, 2026 — The political atmosphere in the national capital remains volatile as Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra escalated the opposition’s attack on the BJP-led government, demanding the immediate resignation of Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The demand follows explosive revelations and subsequent admissions regarding the Minister’s past interactions with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The controversy, which has paralyzed proceedings in Parliament, centers on a batch of recently unsealed “Epstein Files” from the United States. These documents reportedly contain email exchanges and references to Mr. Puri during his tenure as a senior diplomat and his subsequent association with international think tanks.

“Moral Grounds for Resignation”

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asserted that Mr. Puri’s position in the Union Cabinet had become untenable. She argued that the nature of the correspondence—and the fact that it continued even after Epstein’s initial 2008 conviction—raised grave questions about the Minister’s judgment and “moral clarity.”

“When a Cabinet Minister’s name surfaces in files associated with a global sex trafficking ring, and he himself admits to meeting such a person multiple times, he loses the moral authority to hold public office,” Gandhi stated. “This isn’t just about professional interactions; it’s about why an Indian representative was in the orbit of such a notorious individual.”

The Congress leader further alleged that the government is attempting to “trivialize” the gravity of Epstein’s crimes by framing the interactions as merely “professional networking.”

Hardeep Puri’s Rebuttal: “Professional and Incidental”

Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has hit back at the allegations, labeling them a “smear campaign” orchestrated by the Congress leadership, specifically targeting Rahul Gandhi. In a detailed press conference at the BJP headquarters, Puri clarified the context of the meetings:

• Frequency: He acknowledged meeting Epstein three to four times between 2009 and 2017.
• The Context: Puri stated these meetings occurred in his capacity as a member of the International Peace Institute (IPI) and the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM).
• The Defense: He maintained that the interactions were entirely focused on international diplomacy and pitching India’s “Make in India” initiative to tech leaders like LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
• The “Two-Faced” Remark: Puri highlighted an email where Epstein reportedly called him “two-faced,” arguing this proved he was not part of Epstein’s “inner circle” and was viewed as an outsider by the financier.

The Content of the Disputed Emails

The fallout intensified after Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera released specific snippets of the leaked emails. One exchange from December 2014 allegedly shows Puri asking Epstein, “Please let me know when you are back from your exotic island,” while another from October 2014 features Puri telling Epstein, “You, my friend, make things happen.”

The Congress party has used these specific phrases to question why a seasoned diplomat would refer to a convicted sex offender as a “friend” or seek his assistance in facilitating high-level business meetings.

A Growing Political Storm

The “Epstein Files” fallout has become a major flashpoint between the ruling NDA and the Opposition. While the BJP has dismissed the claims as “trashy ruminations” and “baseless innuendo,” the Congress remains steadfast.

Key Developments:

• Privilege Motion: NDA leaders have threatened a breach of privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue in the Lok Sabha without prior notice.
• Wider Allegations: The Congress has also demanded that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) clarify any potential “foreign manipulation” mentioned in the wider cache of documents.
• Public Protests: Congress workers have organized demonstrations across several cities, demanding transparency and accountability from the Ministry of External Affairs.

As the government continues to defend the Minister’s record, Priyanka Gandhi’s demand for resignation ensures that the controversy will likely dominate the political discourse in the coming weeks, putting the Modi administration’s “zero tolerance” policy for corruption and misconduct under intense scrutiny.