The Congress party has stepped up its criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after former US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he had given $21 million to “friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase voter turnout in India. Congress has demanded transparency, asking for a White Paper on foreign funding to political parties and related organizations. The BJP, meanwhile, has rubbished the controversy, terming Rahul Gandhi a “traitor” and accusing Congress of enabling foreign interference.
Congress Questions BJP’s Silence
At a press conference on Saturday, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera mocked the BJP’s silence over the matter, referring to the controversy as “a matter between two friends.” He accused the party in power of profiteering from foreign money and asked where the money reportedly received was spent.
“Trump’s statement confirms that he has sent this money to Modi to affect elections. Given that we have been raising an eyebrow over trends in voter turnout, is this surge because of foreign money?” Khera queried, calling for a White Paper on all foreign financial donations to Indian political parties and cultural organizations.
USAID Funding and Foreign Influence Allegations
Referring to a Washington Post report that refuted allegations of US financing of Indian elections, Khera claimed the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have always charged civil society organizations of foreign interference while profiting from USAID donations themselves. He pointed out that USAID gave $650 million to India from FY 2021 to FY 2024 and questioned its real intention. He demanded that the funds should be made public.
Khera also attributed previous USAID disbursals to major political developments in India, such as the emergence of Narendra Modi as the BJP prime ministerial candidate and the establishment of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). “Who gained from these monies?” he questioned, calling for legal action to be taken against those spreading “false narratives” to fool the country.
Trump’s Controversial Claim
The controversy started after Elon Musk’s DOGE platform claimed that a $21 million USAID grant was meant to increase voter turnout in India. Trump escalated the claim, saying, “Why do we have to spend USD 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they (the Biden administration) were attempting to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government.”
Despite the Washington Post finding that no such program had existed, Trump kept on repeating the claims unsubstantiated. Trump also raised an eyebrow at how a lot of money was being spent on holding elections abroad while efforts on voting in America were lacking.
BJP’s Counterattack: Brands Rahul Gandhi as a “Traitor”
The BJP has responded aggressively, accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of seeking foreign intervention to remove Modi from power. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that foreign interference was a hallmark of Congress governance, alleging that over $2,000 million in USAID funding entered India between 2004 and 2013, while only $1.5 million was received during Modi’s tenure.
While the BJP characterized The Washington Post report as a “cover-up,” it still has not presented any concrete reply denying the USAID funding accusation.
Congress Demands a Thorough Probe
The Congress has demanded that the White Paper on foreign funding proposed should not be exclusive to USAID but include all foreign funding assistance under Indian law. The party demanded that PM Modi himself clarify the government’s position and respond to the allegations personally.
“The RSS-BJP and their universe are creating false stories against good civil society organizations, NGOs, and political parties. These actors need to be named and shamed and also booked for fooling the country,” stated Pawan Khera.
Clarification on Election Commission and IFES Agreement
The opposition also dismissed BJP’s argument that an agreement between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in 2012 created foreign influence on elections. Khera clarified that IFES was only involved in creating an election management curriculum and did not have any mandate to influence home polls.
“The IFES was hired by the ECI to prepare a curriculum in election management, not to meddle in Indian elections,” Khera said. “The training manual was utilized for electoral officials globally, not for national polls. The website of the ECI claims that 69,362 officials from 109 nations have been trained under this program.”
Political War Intensifies
While this war of words continues, Khera himself posted on Twitter, taunting the BJP as follows: “In this recent expose on so-called US funding to boost India’s voter turnout, The Washington Post verifies that there was no such program and no such money received. Crow is part of the daily meal for the BJP and its blind followers. Who else will consume crow after this farce of a fiasco?”
The BJP, however, continues to claim that foreign powers have sought to undermine Modi’s leadership, making Congress complicit in external interference.
With Trump continuing to push the voter turnout funding claim and Congress demanding a comprehensive probe into foreign contributions, the issue remains a flashpoint in Indian politics. The BJP’s counterattack against Rahul Gandhi and the opposition’s insistence on accountability ensure that this controversy is far from over.