Mumbai’s political spotlight has shifted to a fiery exchange between Bollywood actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. During a recent Lok Sabha session, Rahul Gandhi referenced the controversial Epstein files while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparking widespread debate across India’s political corridors.
Ranaut didn’t hold back in her response. Taking to social media, the Himachal Pradesh MP labeled Gandhi’s choice of words as vulgar and indicative of a corrupt mindset. ‘What can you expect from someone with such a filthy and depraved mentality who talks about the Epstein files saying there’s still a lot of maal (goods) and kebab in it?’ she remarked sharply.
Gandhi had claimed that the Epstein documents contain substantial unreleased information that the entire nation is eager to uncover, drawing parallels to his criticisms of the government. This statement, however, drew immediate backlash for its colloquial and potentially offensive phrasing.
For context, Jeffrey Epstein was a notorious American financier accused of sex trafficking minors. He died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial, with his death officially ruled a suicide. Recently, the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages of records, videos, and photos from the investigation.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) addressed a specific email in these files mentioning PM Modi’s 2017 Israel visit. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed it as ‘nonsense from a convicted criminal,’ urging it be ignored entirely.
Ranaut’s outspoken critique underscores the intensifying political rhetoric ahead of key elections. As both sides dig in, this episode highlights how international scandals are being weaponized in domestic battles. Observers note that such exchanges risk polarizing public opinion further, with Gandhi’s supporters defending his push for transparency while critics like Ranaut accuse him of sensationalism.
The controversy shows no signs of abating, with social media buzzing and more reactions expected from political heavyweights.