Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, launched a sharp political attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over a purported photograph of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, linking the alleged timing of its release to the ongoing India visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Gandhi's X Post and Its Implications

In a post on X, Gandhi wrote: 'Rubio goes to Mumbai. The US DOJ releases a picture of Epstein and Puri. Dear BJP and RSS workers, which anti-national traitor do you think they're blackmailing?'

The remark juxtaposed the reported circulation of the purported photograph with Rubio's visit to Mumbai, raising pointed questions about the timing of the two developments and their possible political significance. Gandhi stopped short of explicitly mentioning the India-US trade deal in his post, though the reference to Rubio's presence added to speculation within opposition circles.

Congress Broadens the Narrative

Earlier on the same day, Congress leader Srinivas B.V. had gone further, explicitly connecting the developments to Rubio's Mumbai visit and suggesting a 'possible connection' between the purported photograph's circulation and ongoing trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington. It must be noted, however, that neither the timing of the photograph's circulation nor the statements by opposition leaders establish any verified link between the matter and the trade negotiations.

The purported photograph of Puri alongside Epstein had been circulating on social media, prompting opposition leaders to demand explanations. The Congress framing — tying the image's reported release to a high-profile diplomatic visit — appears designed to maximise political pressure at a moment of active bilateral engagement.

BJP Hits Back: Patra's Counter-Attack

The BJP did not hold back. Senior BJP leader Sambit Patra, speaking in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, accused Gandhi — the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha — of attempting to engineer 'regime change' in India, citing reports of Gandhi's four-day private trip to Vietnam. Patra alleged, without providing evidence, that Gandhi was travelling abroad to receive 'coaching' from US financier George Soros on how to destabilise the country. The allegations came amid ongoing domestic protests related to what has been referred to as the SIR matter.

Patra's remarks represent a familiar BJP counter-strategy: redirecting scrutiny onto Gandhi's foreign engagements whenever the opposition goes on the offensive. The Congress has not yet formally responded to Patra's specific claims.

Context and Significance

This comes amid an already charged political atmosphere, with Rubio's India visit serving as a backdrop to multiple opposition narratives around the India-US bilateral relationship. The Epstein angle injects a particularly volatile element into the discourse: Epstein's global network has been the subject of intense political scrutiny internationally, and any alleged Indian political connection — however unverified — carries significant reputational stakes.

Notably, Union Minister Puri has not yet issued a formal public response to the circulating photograph or to Gandhi's post as of Wednesday evening. As both the diplomatic and political temperature rises, the BJP and the Congress appear set for an extended confrontation over the matter in the days ahead.