New Delhi: United States President Donald Trump and his technology entrepreneur associate Elon Musk have raised significant concerns regarding the purported $21 million funding intended for “voter turnout in India.” They have triumphantly asserted that they have successfully halted this funding. The origin of the $21 million is straightforward; it was allocated for distribution by the now-defunct United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The reality is more complex: Where did the funds actually go? Contrary to the assertions made by Trump and Musk, an investigation conducted by Indian Express reveals that the $21 million grant was actually designated for Bangladesh. Notably, there has been no USAID-funded initiative by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (the organization that received the funds) in India since 2008.
The situation has incited considerable political discourse in India. Trump’s unrestrained remark—”guess they were trying to get somebody else elected”—has further fueled the controversy. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has leveraged these comments to accuse the Congress party of engaging in “foreign interference” in elections. In response, the Congress has dismissed Trump’s assertions, calling for a White Paper on the issue.
The BJP has criticized the Congress, alleging that it sought foreign funding to prevent Prime Minister Narendra Modi from securing power in 2014. This backlash followed Trump’s questioning of a decision by former President Joe Biden’s administration to allocate $21 million to India for “voter turnout,” suggesting that it was an attempt to influence electoral outcomes.
The Congress has reiterated its demand for a White Paper regarding the USAID funds allocated to India, labeling Trump’s statements as “nonsensical.”
BJP sources indicated that during the tenure of the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the government received $204.28 million, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) received $2,114.96 million. However, this financial inflow significantly diminished after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) assumed power, with government funding plummeting to $1 million between 2014 and 2015, despite an increase in NGO funding to $2,579.73 million.
According to sources, George Soros’s Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which produced reports critical of the government and utilized by Congress to challenge the NDA administration, received $47 million since its inception.
BJP sources asserted that following the Modi administration’s rise to power, there was a notable increase in funding for NGOs and other entities in India, indicating a shift in focus from direct USAID involvement in governmental affairs to financing anti-India and anti-national organizations within the country.
In response, Jairam Ramesh, a senior leader of Congress and head of communications, has called for the release of a White Paper.
In a post on X, Mr. Ramesh stated: “USAID has been prominently featured in recent discussions. Established on November 3, 1961, the claims made by the US President are, to say the least, nonsensical. Nevertheless, the Government of India should promptly publish a White Paper outlining USAID’s support to both governmental and non-governmental entities in India throughout the years.”
On February 16, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by US billionaire and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, released a list detailing how “US taxpayer dollars were allocated,” which included “$21 million for voter turnout in India.”
On Thursday, President Trump questioned the rationale behind allocating $21 million for “voter turnout” in India, stating, “Why do we need to spend USD 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected.”
