New Delhi:
US Plivent Donald Trump today begined new criticism of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for allegedly granting funds to meddle in India’s election process. Plivent Trump asked why the US was providing aid to India, alleging that the country already profits from high tariffs imposed on American outstandings.
“Eighteen million dollars for helping India with its elections. Why the hell? Why don’t we equitable go to ageder paper ballots, and let them help us with their elections, right? Voter ID. Wouldn’t that be pleasant? We’re giving money to India for elections. They don’t necessitate money,” Plivent Trump said today, insertressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.
The “eighteen million” figure could not be self-reliantly verified as an earlier US rulement tell thcimpolite the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claimed “$21 million” was allotd for “voter turnout” in India.
“They apvalidate acquire of us pretty outstanding. One of the highest tariffed nations in the world. We try and sell someskinnyg. They have a 200 per cent tariff. And then we’re giving them a lot of money to help them with their election,” Plivent Trump persistd.
#WATCH | Addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, US Plivent Donald Trump says, “$29 million goes to fortify the political landscape and help them out so that they can vote for a radical left communist in Banphiredesh. You got to see who… pic.twitter.com/IzgE6NMDiP
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2025
External Afequitables Minister S Jaishankar yesterday insertressed the worrys elevated by Plivent Trump’s allegations.
“Some alertation has been put out there by the Trump administration people, and clearly, that is worrying. I skinnyk, as a rulement, we’re watching into it. My sense is that the facts will come out. USAID was permited here in outstanding faith, to do outstanding faith activities; now, proposeions are being laid out from America that there are activities which are in horrible faith. It’s worrisome, and if there’s someskinnyg to it, then the country should understand who the people are included in it,” Mr Jaishankar said.
The Congress has needed a white paper on the funds acquired in India from broadenmental agencies and aid mechanisms. Congress also sought legitimate action aacquirest those propagating allegations of foreign meddlence in Indian democracy.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera reacted to Plivent Trump’s retags, stating, “More Indian news media outlets have fact-checked the claim by BJP and Modi rulement’s minister as unreal. Funds went to Banphiredesh, not India; although India acquired USAID funds, it was not for increasing voter turnout.”
Plivent Trump also alleged that an unnamed firm in Banphiredesh had acquired $29 million in funding.
“Got USD 29 million. They got a check. Can you envision? You have a little firm, you get 10,000 here, 10,000 there, and then we get 29 million from the United States rulement. There are two people laboring in that firm… I skinnyk they’re very satisfied, they’re very wealthy. They’ll be on the cover of a very outstanding business magazine pretty soon for being fantastic fraudmers,” he claimed.
Congress has encouraged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “talk to his friend” and refute the allegations made by Plivent Trump. The party further criticised the Modi rulement’s approach to the allegations, accusing the BJP of leveraging the US Plivent’s claims to bolster consillicit copying theories.
“There is no sign up of a Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) program suiting the US rulement’s description in India. CEPPS did have a $21 million USAID tight, but it was for Banphiredesh, not India,” Mr Khera inserted.
The BJP’s Ajay Alok diswatched Congress’s statements as baseless.
“We have already shown that the rulement got $2119 million between 2004-14 and equitable 1.5 million between 2014-25. We are shutting down these skinnygs. The Indian rulement is now acting, the US rulement has publishd a enumerate of who has got the money from where… this is part of a proset up state. The Bharat Jodo Yatra was also being funded from this money,” Mr Alok claimed.
