BJP Claims Kapil Sibal Received Award Funded by Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, Urges Rahul Gandhi to Respond

The BJP alleges that Kapil Sibal received an award funded by Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, demanding a response from Rahul Gandhi. Both Sibal and Congress deny the claims, asserting the award was unrelated to Epstein.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused former Union minister Kapil Sibal of accepting an award funded by Jeffrey Epstein in 2010. They have demanded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi address the issue. Sibal dismissed the allegation as baseless, while the Congress party also denied any connection between Sibal and Epstein at the event.

According to BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, Sibal received the award during an event in New York. Bhandari claimed that Sam Pitroda, head of Congress's overseas department, was also linked to the same circles. He shared a document on X, listing Sibal and other dignitaries as awardees at the 2010 International Awards Gala.

Congress Responds to Allegations

Pawan Khera, head of Congress's media department, stated that Sibal was honoured for his support of global education collaboration. Khera emphasised that the award had no ties to Epstein. He criticised BJP leaders for misinterpreting documents and spreading false narratives.

Khera explained that the document being circulated was a list of public events in New York, compiled by Margaux Rogers and forwarded to Epstein's assistant. It included various events, such as conferences and fashion shows, with Sibal's name appearing under an Institute of International Education event.

BJP's Continued Criticism

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned why Sibal accepted an award from an Epstein-funded organisation. He challenged Rahul Gandhi to address this issue in Parliament, given his frequent speeches there. Poonawalla's comments were part of BJP's broader criticism of Congress over alleged links to Epstein.

Hardeep Singh Puri from Congress accused BJP propagandists of not thoroughly reading the document they were using to make their claims. He suggested that BJP was trying to divert attention from controversies surrounding their own members by dragging opposition figures into unrelated matters.

Rahul Gandhi's Allegations

In a separate context, Rahul Gandhi criticised the India-US interim trade deal during a Lok Sabha debate. He claimed it compromised India's energy security and farmers' interests while benefiting BJP's financial network. Outside Parliament, he mentioned that names like Hardeep Singh Puri and Anil Ambani appeared in Epstein files.

Responding to Gandhi's remarks, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri clarified his limited interactions with Epstein. He asserted that these meetings were unrelated to Epstein's criminal activities. The Congress has been calling for Puri's resignation following these revelations.

The controversy continues as both parties exchange accusations over alleged connections with Jeffrey Epstein. The focus remains on clarifying these associations and addressing the political implications they may carry for both sides.

With inputs from PTI