![Deoxa Indonesian Channels](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2uXyZNeY1qRtWaSR0rhwc3a-MCvhqAIjkjniGx3vaSgHdpGxK7L-5Fu48IyhzN7XHA_L8T6maSopewpxHSIYF9qS4mqy_ocJ4fhZikn-SiKUFPT4jkmT1LO42vUtlEwOg7uLeOH2NcR_jxBdZF2t9eeUCrg04Sfx8DxX2viw0fxbggj0ufBI4qRBS4dA/s3464/1000102670.png")
Advertisement
 |
| US President Donald Trump defends DOGE move to cancel $21 million USAID on voter turnout in India(AP) |
Washington/New Delhi – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has defended the decision to cancel $21 million in U.S. taxpayer funding initially allocated for voter turnout efforts in India. The move, announced by Elon Musk-led DOGE on February 16, has sparked a political controversy in India, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress clashing over foreign involvement in the country's electoral process.
Speaking while signing executive orders at Mar-a-Lago, Trump questioned the rationale behind the funding.
"Why are we giving USD 21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving USD 21 million for voter turnout?" ANI quoted Trump as saying.
The DOGE-led initiative also scrapped an additional $22 million in U.S. taxpayer-funded allocations, listing the India voter turnout funding among the cancelled expenditures. The announcement has triggered heated reactions in India.
Political Controversy in India
The BJP strongly criticized the Congress party over the issue, alleging that foreign entities have been influencing India's institutions. Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell head, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to attack the opposition.
"It is becoming increasingly evident that the Congress-led UPA systematically enabled the infiltration of India's institutions by forces opposed to the nation's interests—those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity," Malviya posted.
He further alleged that billionaire investor George Soros, known for his association with Congress and the Gandhi family, was exerting undue influence over India's electoral process.
The Congress party, under attack from the BJP, distanced itself from any foreign involvement and demanded an investigation.
"The Congress party is clear that any kind of foreign intervention in our democratic process or election process is unwarranted and not correct, and we oppose it. It needs to be condemned and there should be a probe into it," senior Congress leader Ajay Maken told PTI.
International Implications
The controversy adds another layer to the complex U.S.-India relationship. While Trump has expressed admiration for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his criticism of India’s trade policies and tariffs has been a recurring theme. The scrapped USAID funding aligns with his broader stance of limiting U.S. financial commitments abroad.
As the debate over foreign funding in Indian elections intensifies, the issue is likely to remain a flashpoint in domestic politics, especially with India gearing up for its next general elections.
