Epstein Files: CPI(M) demands Hardeep Singh Puri's removal from Union cabinet
New Delhi (PTI): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday slammed the government for not taking action against the Indians named in the Epstein Files and demanded the removal of Minister Hardeep Singh Puri from the Union cabinet.
In a statement, the CPI(M) also slammed the government for not allowing discussion on the Epstein Files in Parliament.
The party's general secretary M A Baby accused Puri, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, of "lying" in his press conference.
"Despite clear evidence of Hardeep Singh Puri's involvement in Epstein Files, the Union government is not allowing a discussion in Parliament," Baby said on X.
"The minister has even lied in his own press conference. He has brought disgrace to our nation. PM Narendra Modi should sack him right away!" Baby said.
The CPI(M), in its statement, said extremely "repulsive and abhorrent" content of the Epstein Files is unravelling daily and "despite the attempts of the US Department of Justice and the Trump Administration at a grand cover-up, the facts are coming out".
The Left party said there is "no iota of doubt" about the aggressive criminal nature and impunity of the network involving the power elite comprising politicians, financial overlords, tech giants and celebrities, who were part of this "criminal network of which Epstein was the chief facilitator".
Several countries are initiating concrete legal and punitive actions, the party said, citing the example of Prince Andrew being stripped of his titles and arrested in the UK.
"Several others have been forced to resign from their positions in their respective nations," it said, adding that despite clear evidence of the involvement of Puri and industrialist Anil Ambani, there was no attempt by the Union government to force an explanation and ensure accountability.
"In the face of available evidence, Hardeep Singh Puri has been caught lying in his own press conference. Yet, instead of being sacked, he is being protected by all devious means," it said.
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau categorically demanded that the Prime Minister remove Puri from the Union cabinet to "redeem national embarrassment and shame".
The Epstein Files are thousands of pages of documents related to two criminal investigations into sex trafficking by financier Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, including travel logs, recordings and emails that have been a topic of conversation since Epstein died in custody in 2019.
Puri has figured in the publicly released documents, with references largely linked to his earlier diplomatic tenure and association with the International Peace Institute in New York.
The Union petroleum minister has stated that his interaction with Epstein was limited to a few professional meetings and email exchanges in the context of multilateral and institutional work. He said he had met Epstein on a "few occasions" but his interactions had nothing to do with the crimes the convicted sex offender was involved in.
Despite clear evidence of Hardeep Singh Puri's involvement in Epstein Files, the Union Government is not allowing a discussion in Parliament.
— M A Baby (@MABABYCPIM) February 20, 2026
The minister has even lied in his own press conference. He has brought disgrace to our nation. PM Narendra Modi should sack him right… https://t.co/HLT4hCmpap
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12-year-old girl killed in lightning strike in Kerala's Idukki
Idukki (Kerala) (PTI): A 12-year-old girl died after being struck by lightning at Uruvapara here, police said on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Nafeesathul Misriya, daughter of Afsal, a native of Cheruvelikkunnu near Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district.
According to the police, Misriya and her family reached Uruvapara to attend ‘Summerfest’, a tourism event, on Friday evening.
Police said that lightning struck Misriya. Apart from Misriya, two others were also injured in the incident.
Though Misriya was rushed to a nearby private hospital, she was declared dead, police said.
The injured persons are currently admitted to a private hospital in Thodupuzha.
Thodupuzha police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated an investigation.
The body will be handed over to relatives after the postmortem, police added.
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