Trump’s Controversial $21 Million Voter Turnout Comment Ignites Political Firestorm in India

US President Donald Trump’s recent statement about America spending $21 million to enhance voter turnout in India’s elections has sparked significant political debate in the country.

His comments came just after Elon Musk’s team announced that funding from the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) had been cut as part of a broader initiative to reduce federal expenditures. India’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), interpreted Trump’s remark as foreign interference, accusing the opposition Congress Party of inviting this kind of involvement.

The Congress Party sharply rejected these claims, labeling Trump’s assertions as “nonsensical.” They pointed out that the US has yet to provide any supporting evidence for its accusation.

India’s foreign ministry found Trump’s claims concerning voter turnout “deeply troubling.” Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that it is still too early to draw conclusions, emphasizing that authorities are actively investigating the matter.

Trump, who is focused on reviving the US economy, had previously set up Doge under Musk’s leadership to cut down on government spending. Musk has vocally criticized USAID, the agency involved in humanitarian support, calling it a “criminal organization.” Recently, he disclosed that several funding initiatives have been canceled, including substantial cuts directed at the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,” which included the $21 million for India and additional funding for Moldova.

Trump defended these cuts, arguing that India has sufficient resources and is one of the highest-taxing nations in the world. He raised questions about the necessity of spending $21 million to influence voter turnout in India.

His comments come shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Washington during Trump’s second term. During this visit, Trump spoke about increased military sales, energy exports, and plans for a new trade agreement.

In the political firestorm that followed, BJP leader Amit Malviya pointed to a video of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaking in London. Gandhi suggested that major democracies, including the US and Europe, were unaware that India’s democratic model was facing serious issues. Malviya claimed this was Gandhi urging foreign powers to get involved in India’s internal matters.

Congress’s Jairam Ramesh dismissed these allegations, advocating for transparency on USAID’s historical support to various institutions in India during Modi’s tenure.

Despite the shifts in the political landscape, neither Trump nor Doge has confirmed evidence of USAID providing $21 million specifically for India’s voter turnout. Former Indian election chief SY Qureshi, who served from 2010 to 2012, stated he did not receive such funding. There were claims that in 2012, under Qureshi, India signed an agreement with a group affiliated with George Soros’ foundation, funded mainly by USAID, for a voter turnout campaign, but Qureshi refuted this claim, calling it misleading.

A report by the Indian Express clarified that the alleged $21 million was intended for Bangladesh, slated for a three-year project ending in July 2025. According to their findings, $13.4 million of this budget had already been used.

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