Trump’s claim of the US spending $21 million for voter turnout in India has incited political disputes, with the BJP accusing Congress of soliciting foreign interference. Congress refuted these claims, deeming them nonsensical, while India’s foreign ministry expressed concern. The controversy intensified after investigations announced that the funds were earmarked for Bangladesh rather than India.
United States President Donald Trump’s assertion that the US allocated $21 million to enhance voter turnout in India has ignited significant political debate within the country. This statement followed a declaration by a team led by Elon Musk, which announced the cancellation of funding intended for a US agency responsible for foreign aid, part of a broader initiative to reduce federal expenditure.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) characterized this funding claim as “external interference” and accused the opposition Congress party of soliciting foreign intervention. The Congress party vehemently refuted this claim, labeling Trump’s remarks as “nonsensical,” while highlighting the lack of evidence supporting the assertions made by the US.
India’s foreign ministry expressed concerns over Trump’s comments, describing them as “deeply troubling”. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that premature statements regarding the situation are not warranted, as investigations are ongoing into the matter.
Following his return to office, Trump focused on economic rejuvenation and established the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), spearheaded by Musk, to reduce federal spending. Amidst its controversial moves is a targeted reduction of funding for USAID, an agency long involved in humanitarian assistance.
Trump defended the cuts by stating that India possesses ample financial resources and ranks among the highest-taxing nations worldwide. Continuing his comments, he questioned the rationale behind the purported $21 million expenditure for enhancing voter turnout in India.
His remarks surfaced shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Washington, during which Trump discussed military sales, energy exports, and new trade agreements. Trump insinuated that external forces were attempting to influence electoral outcomes in India, stating, “I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government.”
On social media, BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a video clip featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in which Gandhi commented about democratic frameworks being compromised in India. Malviya accused Gandhi of soliciting intervention from foreign powers, asserting that this evidenced the opposition’s desire for external involvement in Indian affairs.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh refuted Malviya’s allegations and called upon the government to transparently disclose USAID’s roles and contributions throughout Prime Minister Modi’s administration. As for the claims regarding the supposed $21 million donation, neither Doge nor Trump has presented credible evidence of such funding granted to India.
Former Election Commissioner SY Qureshi refuted claims of receiving any such funding during his term from 2010 to 2012. Furthermore, investigative reports suggest that the $21 million in question was actually allocated for Bangladesh rather than India, with a portion already utilized.
The controversy surrounding President Trump’s $21 million claim for voter turnout in India has sparked a heated political debate involving the BJP and Congress party. While Trump promotes funding cuts associated with USAID, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been accused of seeking foreign intervention, which he denied. The lack of supportive evidence for Trump’s assertion and clarification of funding allocations further complicate the narrative, revealing underlying tensions in US-India relations.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
