US interference in Indian Election- Present US President Donald Trump has once again raised concerns about the Biden administration’s decision to allocate $21 million to India for “voter turnout,” implying potential US interference in India’s 2024 general election.
While speaking in Miami, Trump claimed that the Biden administration was attempting to influence India’s 2024 elections by supporting a different candidate.
What Trump said?- US interference in Indian Election
Addressing the FII Priority Summit in Miami, Florida, former US President Donald Trump questioned the necessity of spending $21 million on voter turnout in India. He stated, “Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they [Biden administration] were trying to get somebody else elected.
We have got to tell the Indian government. This is a total breakthrough.” His remarks followed revelations from the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had allocated $21 million to support voter turnout efforts in India.
In a similar statement on Tuesday, Trump also criticized the funding, questioning why the US was providing $21 million to India despite the country’s high import tariffs.
“Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have plenty of money. They are one of the highest-taxing countries in the world when it comes to us; we can barely do business there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and its Prime Minister, but $21 million for voter turnout?” he remarked.
DOGE also revealed that $29 million was designated to “enhance the political landscape in Bangladesh,” which experienced political unrest last year amid accusations of US interference in efforts to remove Sheikh Hasina. Furthermore, $39 million was allocated for “fiscal federalism” and “biodiversity conservation” in Nepal, along with various other international funding initiatives.
US interference in Indian Election– BJP attacking congress over USAID
BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Rajeev Chandrasekhar have strongly criticized the Congress over Doge’s claim regarding external funding in India’s electoral process and US interference in Indian Election
“$21 million for voter turnout? This is clearly US interference in Indian elections. Who benefits from this? Certainly not the ruling party!” stated BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya.
He further alleged that George Soros for US interference in Indian Election, whom he described as a known associate of the Congress party and the Gandhis, was influencing India’s electoral system.
Malviya pointed out that in 2012, under the-Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, the Election Commission of India signed an MoU with The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), an organization linked to Soros’s Open Society Foundation, which is primarily funded by USAID.
Malviya also criticized those questioning the recent changes in the process of appointing India’s Election Commissioner, noting that while critics opposed reforms making the process more transparent and inclusive, they had previously allowed foreign entities to influence the Election Commission.
He accused the Congress-led UPA of systematically enabling US interference in Indian election and it’s institutions, alleging that such forces aimed to weaken the country.
Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also condemned USAID for its funding allocations in South Asia, including the $21 million for India, calling it a “smoking gun of US interference in Indian election and undermining of democracies.”
In a post on X, he expressed outrage, stating, “It is shocking that while there is talk of democratic values, there is also blatant interference in democratic nations.”
He further questioned the $486 million allocated to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, asking, “What does that even mean, and why? $21 million (Rs 200 crore) for ‘voter turnout in India’—whose voters and for whom? Who received this money?”
Chandrasekhar suggested that many protests in India had external funding and backing, calling for a thorough investigation into the money trail linked to USAID.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also raised concerns over DOGE’s claims.
In a post on X, he questioned, “Would love to know who received the $21 million meant for improving ‘voter turnout in India,’ the $29 million for ‘strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh,’ and the $29 million for ‘fiscal federalism’ in Nepal. USAID is the biggest scam in human history.”
You can also read. Political buzz on $21 Millions USAID for Voter turnout in India
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