The controversy over former US President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding a $21 million USAID fund for voter turnout in India has triggered a heated political exchange between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. While the BJP has accused the Congress of seeking foreign funds to prevent Narendra Modi from coming to power in 2014, the Congress has dismissed Donald Trump’s claims as “nonsensical” and demanded a White Paper on USAID funding to India.
Donald Trump’s comments came after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by billionaire Elon Musk, listed the allocation of US taxpayer money, which included “$21 million for voter turnout in India.” Donald Trump questioned this expenditure, alleging that it was an attempt to influence India’s elections. “Why do we need to spend USD 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected,” he remarked.
BJP sources responded by highlighting past USAID funding records, claiming that during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, India received $204.28 million in government funding, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) received a staggering $2114.96 million. However, after the Modi government took office in 2014, this funding saw a dramatic decline. While government funding fell to just $1 million between 2014 and 2015, NGO funding increased to $2579.73 million.
The BJP further alleged that organizations such as the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which has been critical of the Modi government, received $47 million in funding from entities linked to billionaire investor George Soros. According to BJP sources, these funds were used to create anti-government narratives that the Congress then leveraged to attack the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). They also claimed that under the Modi government, USAID’s role in direct government involvement diminished, while funding shifted towards anti-government entities in India.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed these allegations and demanded transparency regarding USAID funding. In a post on X, Ramesh stated, “USAID is very much in the news these days. Claims being made by the US President are typically nonsensical to say the least. Even so, the Government of India should bring out a White Paper at the earliest detailing USAID’s support to both governmental and non-governmental institutions in India over the decades.”
The political storm comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign funding in India and the influence of international organizations on domestic affairs. With elections approaching, both parties continue to use the controversy to push their respective narratives.
