Hardeep Singh Puri slams Rahul Gandhi over Epstein file claims

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has hit back at Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over allegations linking his name to the 'Epstein files'. 

Clarifying his position, Puri stated that his only interaction involved a 2014 email to LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, which was copied to Jeffrey Epstein, solely to promote India’s 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' initiatives. 

'I am now convinced more than ever that India today presents a terrific



opportunity for internet-based economic activity,' Puri quoted from his own correspondence, emphasizing he was a private citizen at the time. He dismissed the opposition's claims as a 'smear campaign' and 'buffoonery', explaining that international figures like Terje Rød-Larsen had introduced him to Hoffman for professional reasons. Puri further defended India's recent trade agreements and economic growth, mocking Rahul Gandhi's understanding of global trade and the external sector's contribution to India's GDP.