Did the USAID fund the BJP in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024?
Did the USAID give $21 million to the ruling party in India.
In a fresh turn and an unexpected twist in the ongoing controversy, US President Donald Trump siad that the US government funded agency gave $21 million to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What Has Donald Trump Said?
In a video shared by the BJP IT department head Anit Malviya, Trump said, “USD 21 million going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We are giving $21 million for voter turnout in India, what about us? I want voter turnout too.”
He added that $29 million USAID fund was allocated to Bangladesh for “strengthening the political landscape”.
Donald Trump said, “The $29 million in Bangladesh went to a firm that no one had ever heard of, with only two people working at that firm.”
Donald Trump Takes A U-Turn?
Earlier, the US President said that the USAID funded the project for votersn turn out in India. Defending the decision to cancel the project, he questioned why the money should be spent on such a project in India, which has enough money.
He also hinted that the Joe Biden administration gave the money to get some one elected in the general elections in India.
A day earlier the BJP said that Congress got the USAID money to defeat the BJP. A spat erupted between the saffron party and the grand old party and the Mallikarjun Kharge-led party asked the Union government to release a white paper on the issue.
MEA Reacts Sharply
The Ministry of External Affairs reacted sharply to the allegation with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announcing that the relevant departments and authorities are looking into the information.
Talking to journalists, he said, “We have seen information that has been put out by the US administration regarding certain US activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling.”
He added, “This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs. Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter.”
He said further, “It would be premature to make a public comment at this stage, so relevant authorities are looking into it and hopefully, we can come up with an update on that subsequently.”
Did USAID Fund Sheikh Hasina’s Fall?
If media reports are to be believed, it was Bangladesh, which got $21 million for increasing voter turnout.
It has been found that USAID channelised $21 million through several specially made outfits like the Washington-based Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS).
The CEEPS sent the money through its member organisations, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Though the Sheikh Hasina government ultimately fell on August 5, 2024, when the prime minister was given less than an hour to flee the country, the project to oust her began way back in July 2022 when the first tranche of money for Amar Vote Amar (My Vote is Mine) was sent.
