Donald Trump’s claim of a $21 million funding for voter turnout in India has ignited a political dispute. The BJP labeled it as external interference, while Congress dismissed the claims as nonsensical. The Indian foreign ministry is investigating the issue, and reports suggest the funds were allocated for Bangladesh instead. This controversy highlights the complexities of foreign aid and domestic politics in India.
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that his administration allocated $21 million to improve voter turnout during India’s elections. This statement sparked significant political controversy in India, especially following a declaration from a team led by Elon Musk, which stated it had cancelled funding from a U.S. agency aimed at foreign aid.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted strongly, calling the alleged funding a form of “external interference” and accusing the opposition Congress party of seeking intervention from foreign powers. Congress, however, refuted these allegations, branding Trump’s claims as baseless and nonsensical.
India’s foreign ministry expressed concern regarding Trump’s comments, labeling them as “deeply troubling.” Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that it was premature to draw conclusions while investigations were ongoing into the matter. Trump, upon returning to office, created the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) with a focus on reducing federal expenses.
In a significant move, Doge is targeting USAID, a long-established agency responsible for humanitarian aid. Musk referred to USAID as a “criminal organization” and announced the cancellation of numerous aid projects, including the controversial $21 million earmarked for India’s voter turnout. He justified the cuts by stating that India was financially capable of managing its affairs.
Trump reaffirmed his questioning of the funding for “India’s voter turnout” just days prior. These comments coincided with a visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had discussions about expanded military sales and trade agreements with Trump. During a summit in Miami, Trump suggested there was an effort to influence Indian elections, stating, “I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government.”
In a related exchange, BJP leader Amit Malviya highlighted a video segment featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in which he appeared to solicit intervention from the U.S. and Europe regarding India’s democratic processes. Malviya accused Gandhi of urging foreign powers to engage in India’s internal matters, a claim that Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed.
Despite the allegations, neither Doge nor Trump provided any tangible evidence supporting the $21 million claim for India. Former election chief SY Qureshi clarified that he did not receive such funding during his tenure, while prior assertions by Malviya regarding a 2012 agreement with a group linked to George Soros were labeled as malicious. Notably, an investigative report from Indian Express indicated that the mentioned $21 million was approved for Bangladesh, not India, with a portion already expended.
The recent statement from Donald Trump regarding a purported $21 million funding for voter turnout in India has ignited a political debate, with the BJP condemning it as external interference and Congress calling it unfounded. India’s foreign ministry is currently investigating the claims, while evidence for the funding remains unsubstantiated. A report has clarified that the funds were intended for Bangladesh instead. This incident reflects ongoing tensions between foreign influence and domestic electoral integrity in Indian politics.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
