Indian response to Modi’s dance is worrisome

The U.S. Department of Justice released January 30 investigative materials related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared frequently in the documents and was even described as having "danced for Trump in Israel."

AI photo on social media

Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denied the documents, dismissing them as "trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal" and deserving of the "utmost contempt."

The Modi government’s response raises concerns about the authenticity of the matter. Rather than providing clear, fact-based clarification, it just resorted to hasty denials and evaded details.

This evasive approach disregards the public’s right to know and fuels concerns that the government is avoiding accountability. The reaction itself serves as a political warning.

What is more worrisome is that the files suggest Epstein, even after his conviction, may have had access to members of Modi’s cabinet and have attempted to arrange a meeting between Modi and American far-right figure Steve Bannon.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and the Students’ Federation of India have called on Modi to resign as Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University in order to preserve cultural dignity.

For now, the matter remains at the center of public controversy. Regardless of the final investigation outcome, evasion is not a solution for a government that claims to lead the world’s largest democracy.

Source: Mekong News Network, YICC