A statement by US President Donald Trump claiming that the US spent $21 million to increase voter turnout in India’s elections has ignited a political controversy within the country. His comments come just days after a team led by Elon Musk revealed that it had canceled the payout as part of a broader effort to clamp down on a US agency offering foreign aid.
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly denounced the funding as “external interference” and accused the opposition Congress party of seeking such intervention. However, Congress has firmly rejected the allegation, calling Trump’s statement “nonsensical,” and the US has yet to provide any evidence backing the claim.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over Trump’s remarks, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal describing the claims as “deeply troubling.” He also stated that it was “premature” to make public statements on the matter while investigations were ongoing.
Trump, who promised to revitalize the US economy, formed the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) upon his return to office, with Musk leading the department. Musk has stated that Doge’s mission is to reduce government spending and national debt. One of Doge’s most notable actions has been targeting USAID, the US agency responsible for foreign humanitarian assistance. Musk, who has labeled USAID a “criminal organization,” announced on Sunday that funding for several programs had been canceled, including $486 million for the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.” Of this, $21 million was allegedly earmarked for India’s voter turnout initiative, while $22 million was directed towards Moldova’s political process.
In defense of the cuts, Trump argued that India “had a lot of money” and was one of the world’s highest-taxing countries. He also questioned the need to spend $21 million on India’s voter turnout, reiterating his position on Thursday. His remarks followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Washington under Trump’s second term, where discussions on military sales, energy exports, trade agreements, and defense cooperation took place.
On the same day, BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a video of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaking at a London event before the 2024 elections, where Gandhi had mentioned that major democracies, including the US and Europe, were unaware that India’s democratic model was being undermined. Malviya accused Gandhi of urging foreign powers to intervene in India’s internal affairs.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed Malviya’s claim and urged the government to disclose details about USAID’s long-standing support to both governmental and non-governmental institutions during PM Modi’s tenure.
Did USAID Actually Donate $21 Million to India?
Despite widespread media reports, neither Doge nor Trump has provided evidence that USAID allocated $21 million for voter turnout in India. India’s Election Commission has not commented on the matter, but former election chief SY Qureshi, who served from 2010 to 2012, denied receiving such funds during his tenure.
Malviya had previously claimed that in 2012, under Qureshi’s leadership, the Election Commission entered an agreement with a group associated with George Soros’ foundation, which was mainly funded by USAID, to support a voter turnout campaign. Qureshi dismissed this allegation as “malicious,” emphasizing that the agreement imposed “no financial or legal obligation” on either party.
An investigative report by The Indian Express on Friday revealed that the $21 million was actually intended for Bangladesh, not India. The funding was allocated for a three-year program running until July 2025, with $13.4 million already spent, according to records reviewed by the newspaper.
Leave a Reply