New Delhi: A political firestorm has erupted in India following revelations that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated 21 million dollars towards “voter turnout” in India in 2012. The disclosure, highlighted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has sparked accusations of foreign interference in India’s electoral process, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress trading barbs over the controversial funding.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement expressing concerns about the USAID grant, stating that it “raises worries of interference in Indian internal matters, and relevant agencies are looking into it.” This response came after the BJP and Congress both condemned the funding as external interference in India’s democratic processes.
The controversy centres around a DOGE report that identified 486 million dollars in funding to the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,” including 22 million dollars for Moldova and 21 million dollars for India. DOGE, it should be noted, is an agency focused on cutting wasteful government spending. While the DOGE report itself notes that the funds have been cancelled, the controversy persists.
Congress leader Pawan Khera countered BJP’s Amit Malviya’s criticism, pointing out that the Congress party was in power in 2012 when the grant was allegedly made. Khera’s statement highlights the political manoeuvring inherent in the controversy; the BJP’s accusations imply a Congress hand in the alleged interference, while Khera’s retort suggests that the funds could have helped the then-ruling party. The 2014 general election, won by the BJP, is also brought into the equation, adding to the complex political implications.
Former US President Donald Trump also weighed in, questioning the Biden administration’s decision to allocate the funds and speculating that the intent was to help elect a different candidate. Trump’s statement further fueled accusations of foreign interference. The Congress, in response, has dismissed the accusations as “nonsensical” and called for a white paper detailing USAID projects in India.
