DOGE, led by Elon Musk, canceled a $21 million grant intended for voter turnout in India, inciting BJP leaders to accuse the Opposition Congress of facilitating foreign interference in elections. The decision has triggered a debate about the implications of external funding on Indian democracy and governance. The historical context reveals a longstanding relationship between CEPPS and the Election Commission of India, with recent defenses against allegations of financial misconduct.
The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced on Sunday the cancellation of a $21 million grant intended for the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) aimed at improving voter turnout in India. This decision has prompted strong criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), specifically from leaders Amit Malviya and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who accuse the Opposition Congress of inviting external interference in India’s electoral affairs.
In a statement made via X, DOGE elucidated the financial allocations whose cancellation includes $486 million intended for various initiatives, highlighting $21 million earmarked for voter engagement in India and $22 million for Moldova. The announcement did not disclose the specific Indian agency designated to receive the grant, nor did it provide further details; the websites of CEPPS and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were also inaccessible at the time of reporting.
Under President Donald Trump, the DOGE has been actively revoking grants previously approved by earlier administrations and dissolving USAID programs. The BJP’s Amit Malviya remarked on X, questioning the motivations behind the grant for voter turnout, asserting, “This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!”
Rajeev Chandrasekhar echoed these sentiments, stating, “Smoking gun of interference and undermining of democracies… It reinforces the belief that almost all these ‘protests’ had external funding/forces and puppet masters behind it.” He urged for comprehensive investigations into the funding trails connected to USAID within India to ascertain the intentions behind external financial involvement.
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems’ (IFES) website describes CEPPS as a nonprofit organization collaborating with prominent electoral organizations. Their shared goal is to enhance democratic resilience and accountability globally, having been established with funding from the USAID’s Global Elections and Political Transitions Program. Furthermore, since the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Election Commission of India in 2012, these organizations have aimed to enhance local electoral management capacity.
Malviya further criticized the Congress regarding the memorandum signed by former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi. In defense, Quraishi clarified that this MoU was established to facilitate training and explicitly stated that it did not entail financial obligations. He emphasized, “There was no financing or even promise of finance involved in the MoU… Any mention of any funds in connection with this MoU is completely false and malicious.” The Election Commission of India has not yet responded to queries for additional commentary regarding this situation.
The cancellation of the $21 million grant by DOGE, chaired by Elon Musk, has raised significant concerns regarding foreign involvement in India’s electoral processes. BJP leaders have expressed alarm over potential external interference while emphasizing the necessity of examining the motives behind such funding. The differing perspectives on the memorandum of understanding between Indian authorities and foreign organizations reveal underlying tensions regarding governance and the integrity of democratic institutions.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
