USAID India Row: The Narendra Modi government has started an investigation against those who 'compromise India's sovereignty or interfere in internal processes'. According to sources, the US and India have exchanged a detailed list. This list includes the names of NGOs, influential persons, journalists, scholars and think tanks. The governments of both countries are reviewing this list and will act on the details of the transactions. Sources said that this list is available with the US and Indian administration and will form the basis of the investigation. At present, the government has started sending questionnaires to some persons who received funds from USAID. Details of foreign trips are also being sought. Some 'unusual' transactions have also been observed, which will be investigated in detail.
What will the government investigate?
The immediate concern is whether there was an attempt to interfere or influence the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is headed by Elon Musk, has cancelled a $21 million US taxpayer-funded grant set to 'influence voter turnout' in India under the administration of former President Joe Biden. DOGE explained in its announcement that this $21 million was part of a larger budget of $486 million allocated to the 'Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening'.
According to sources, the Narendra Modi government has taken it seriously to 'open up India's electoral process to external assistance and powers' while it is only the Election Commission's domain to ensure free and fair elections. In 2024, at a rally in Karnataka's Chikballapur, the Prime Minister said, "There are many forces in the world and in India that have united to defeat Modi." Government sources said the report and the list are spread across several pages and the Centre does not want to rush. Both the Modi and Trump administrations have taken these developments seriously and want to get them done.
The opposition, however, has not been impressed. Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera posted on social media site X, asking why the opposition would take money to defeat itself in 2024. But government sources said the style of propaganda shows that the opposition wanted to create an impression that democracy and the Constitution are in crisis, which will give them political mileage. But that did not happen.
Congress demands 'white paper'
Congress Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh said, "USAID is in a lot of news these days. It was established on November 3, 1961. The claims made by the US President are absurd to say the least. Nevertheless, the Indian government should release a white paper as soon as possible, detailing USAID's support to government and non-government institutions in India over the decades." Meanwhile, the name of George Soros is also in the news. The Congress party has shared a video on its official Facebook page, which highlights the relationship between Narendra Modi and George Soros. This video explains how Soros conspired to destabilize the Indian government.
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