The revelation that the US gave 21 million dollars for alleged voter turnout in India has snowballed into a major controversy, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying it is “very deeply troubling” while a slugfest ensued between the BJP and Congress.
“We have seen information that has been put out by the US aid administration regarding certain USAID activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing on Friday.
He, however, said that it would be premature to make a public comment at this stage, given the fact that departments and agencies linked to USAID were looking into this matter.
The BJP and the Congress sparred over the issue. The BJP accused former Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, of taking support on “anti-India forces to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress, hit back at BJP for what it stated was “selective targeting” by the opposition party and wondered whether USAID money was behind the protests of their leader Smriti Irani who was USAID brand ambassador in the past.
Congress also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the reciprocal tariffs and “imposition” of F-35 stealth aircraft on India which has been described as ‘junk’ by Elon Musk.
In between the verbal duel among the two national parties lay a twist.
Media reports suggested that Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announcement on February 16 that it had cancelled USAID funding of “$21 million for voter turnout in India” may be a case of wrong facts.
After accessing the records, the media reports suggested that $21 million was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh and not India.
Out of this USAID spend, $13.4 million was disbursed for “political and civic engagement” among Bangladesh students which lends credence to charges that US was behind the coup against the Sheikh Hasina government.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump on Thursday again raked up the allegation in his address to Republican Governors Association (RGA) meeting. “And $21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems. We want our own turnout, don’t we? Can you imagine all that money going to India? I wonder what they think when they get it.”
He also stated that $29 million was passed on to the Bangladesh to “strengthen political landscape in Bangladesh” and added another element to the controversy by alleging that the previous Biden regime was also getting kickback in the USAID disbursal of money.
“Now, it’s a kickback scheme. You know, it’s not like they get it and they spend, they kick it back to the people that send it. I would say in many cases, many of these cases, anytime you have no idea what we’re talking about, that means there’s a kickback because nobody has any idea what’s going on there. $29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. Nobody knows what they mean by political landscape. What does that mean?,” he said.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the Leader of Opposition was “hell bent on destroying the democracy in the country just because he cannot tolerate Modi”.
“It is worrisome that the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, who has taken oath under the constitution of India to preserve the integrity and sovereignty of our country is indulging in anti-India activities and acting as a stimulus for anti-India forces to interfere in the pure electoral process of our country. He (Rahul Gandhi) is taking the support of foreign forces to defeat PM Modi,” Bhatia said.
“They are not only after PM Modi but want to destroy the democracy of our country because India today under the leadership of PM Modi has become a global leader and he cannot tolerate and digest it, “ he said.
The BJP leader also alleged that the Gandhi wants to give India’s contract to George Soros, an American investor.
“..He has decided to weaken India and its democracy. The other name that is coming out is George Soros. If I say Gandhi and Soros – Gondos. Everyone is saying that in India. He want to give India’s contract to Soros. Anyone who hates India, Rahul Gandhi loves him,” Bhatia said.
Pawan Khera, Chairman of Media & Publicity Department, All India Congress Committee(AICC), said “He (Modi)was not invited to President Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. When he went there, US President Donald Trump said he would impose reciprocal tariffs, but PM Modi was just smiling… PM Modi came from the US after hearing Trump’s threat… US President Donald Trump said that he would end BRICS, but he (PM Modi) was still smiling…America’s Adani, Elon Musk called F-35 fighter jets junk. The same is being imposed on India, and he (PM Modi) was just smiling…This happened in the US and they are telling us that we took money from US aid to destabilise them.”
