Congress questions Modi’s judgment and diplomatic propriety, calling the association with Epstein “inexcusable” for India’s national reputation.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, January 31, 2026 – Newly unsealed emails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have stirred political controversy in India. One message alleges that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took Epstein’s “advice” and “danced and sang in Israel” to benefit then-US President Donald Trump. The claim, part of a 2017 email exchange released by the US Department of Justice, has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party, which called it a “national shame” and demanded immediate clarification from the Prime Minister.
The email, dated July 9, 2017, was sent by Epstein to an unidentified recipient amid discussions on Middle Eastern geopolitics, including Qatar’s funding of terrorism and Gaza’s infrastructure.
In the message, Epstein wrote: “The Indian Prime minister Modi took =dvice. and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president. They had met a few weeks ago=. . IT WORKED.” While the text contains typos—likely intended as “advice” and “a few weeks ago”—the implication is that Epstein claimed Modi acted on his counsel during a high-profile diplomatic trip with positive results.
This email is part of a broader tranche of roughly 18,000 Epstein emails and documents released by the US House Oversight Committee in late 2025, exposing the late financier’s extensive network among global elites.
It is a matter of national shame that Jeffery Epstein – a convicted human trafficker, child sex offender and serial rapist from the USA – wrote that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his “advice and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president. They had met a… pic.twitter.com/3jRXjGLNsS
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) January 31, 2026
Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, cultivated relationships with influential figures in politics, business, and entertainment. While the documents do not allege any criminal involvement by Modi, they highlight Epstein’s apparent interest in India-Israel-US relations.
The timing aligns with key events in 2017. Modi met Trump for the first time on June 26, 2017, in Washington, DC, to discuss counterterrorism and strategic partnerships. Just weeks later, from July 4–6, 2017, Modi made a historic visit to Israel—the first by an Indian Prime Minister—strengthening bilateral ties in defense, technology, and agriculture. Epstein’s communications during this period, including exchanges with Indian billionaire Anil Ambani, repeatedly emphasized “India Israel Key” as a strategic priority.
Ambani had forwarded Epstein an article about Modi’s potential early US visit, to which Epstein replied cryptically, underscoring the sensitivity of the topic.
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Congress Reacts
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera criticized the alleged connection, calling Epstein a “convicted human trafficker, child sex offender, and serial rapist” and questioning Modi’s “proximity to such a disgraced figure.” Khera argued the association raises “serious questions of judgment, transparency, and diplomatic propriety,” calling it “inexcusable” and damaging to India’s “national dignity and international reputation.”
He demanded the Prime Minister clarify three points:
What advice was taken from Epstein?
How did “singing and dancing” in Israel benefit the US president?
What exactly “worked” according to the email?
The email has sparked online debate. Some interpret “danced and sang” as a metaphorical jab at Modi’s diplomatic style—known for cultural gestures and warm embraces—while others view it as evidence of undue external influence.
One X (formerly Twitter) user defended Modi, suggesting the phrase refers to his “style of hugging foreign leaders” rather than literal actions, noting no video evidence of singing or dancing during the Israel visit. Another dismissed the claims as misinterpretations, emphasizing Modi’s positive contributions to India.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have not issued a response to this specific allegation as of January 31.
