Trump’s $21 Million Voter Turnout Claim Fuels Political Controversy in India
Trump’s claim of $21 million for Indian voter turnout has stirred controversy, leading to accusations of foreign interference and rebuttals from Indian politicians. The Indian foreign ministry finds the claims troubling, while evidence for the funding remains unsubstantiated. An investigative report clarified the supposed funding was approved for Bangladesh, not India.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that $21 million was allocated to enhance voter turnout in India’s elections has ignited a political controversy in India. This remark followed the cancellation of planned funding by a team led by Elon Musk, targeting U.S. agency operations providing foreign aid, prompting various reactions in India.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the claimed funding as “external interference” and accused the opposition Congress party of soliciting U.S. intervention. Conversely, Congress dismissed the allegation, labeling Trump’s assertions as “nonsensical,” and noted the absence of supporting evidence from the U.S.
India’s foreign ministry expressed its concern regarding Trump’s claims, stating they were “deeply troubling.” Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal indicated that it was “premature” to make public assertions and confirmed that investigations would be conducted to confirm the details.
Trump’s administration established the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to curtail federal expenditures and was led by Musk. Musk has criticized USAID, claiming it operates as a “criminal organization,” and announced funding cuts to various initiatives, including the alleged $21 million for India.
During a Miami summit, Trump reiterated skepticism regarding the $21 million expenditure for Indian voter turnout, linking high taxation levels in India to its financial capabilities. This statement resurfaced a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, during which Trump discussed military sales and trade enhancements.
Amid the escalating political tensions, BJP’s Amit Malviya shared a video clip of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi advocating for international intervention in India’s democracy. Malviya accused Gandhi of soliciting foreign interference in India’s domestic matters, a claim met with dismissal by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who called for transparency regarding USAID’s historical involvement in India.
Despite widespread claims of the $21 million allocation, neither Doge nor Trump have substantiated the assertion with evidence. Former Indian election chief SY Qureshi refuted claims of receiving such funding during his term from 2010 to 2012, while social media claims citing collaboration with George Soros’ foundation were characterized as “malicious” due to lack of contractual obligations.
An investigative report revealed by the Indian Express clarified that the $21 million was approved for Bangladesh instead of India, designated for a three-year program concluding in July 2025, with $13.4 million already disbursed according to accessed records.
The political fallout from Trump’s assertion of a $21 million voter turnout initiative in India has revealed significant tensions between the BJP and Congress. With India’s foreign ministry labeling the remarks as troubling, notable allegations of international interference have surfaced. Trump’s criticisms have sparked debates over foreign aid and internal political dynamics in India, particularly amid ongoing investigations and clarifications regarding the actual funding allocations.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
