Elon Musk’s DOGE Claims $21 Million Grant Was Cancelled
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly opposed a claim by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, that it cancelled a $21 million taxpayer-funded grant intended for “voter turnout in India.” The grant was reportedly part of a larger $486 million fund under the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, which also included financial support for political programs in Moldova and Bangladesh.
DOGE, which is responsible for cutting government spending, announced on social media platform X that the funding had been revoked, sparking controversy in India.
BJP Calls It Foreign Interference in Elections
Reacting to the revelation, BJP leader Nalin Kohli questioned why any U.S. agency would fund election-related activities in India, calling it a direct attempt to interfere in India’s electoral process.
“Why would any U.S. agency wish to give $21 million for election-related work in India? We are the world’s largest democracy with free and fair elections. Institutionally, there are mechanisms to ensure this, including the Election Commission of India,” Kohli stated.
BJP’s Amit Malviya echoed similar sentiments, terming the alleged grant “external interference” in India’s democracy. He added that the Congress-led UPA had enabled such foreign influence in the past by working with organizations like Cambridge Analytica.
PM Modi’s Adviser Calls USAID a “Scam”
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, went a step further, labeling USAID as “the biggest scam in human history.”
He questioned where the money had gone and demanded accountability for the reported funds used for political programs in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
“Would love to find out who received the US$21 million spent to improve voter turnout in India, the US$29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh, and the US$29 million to improve fiscal federalism in Nepal,” Sanyal posted on X.
BJP MP Suggests Legal Action Against Foreign Influence
BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani called for Indian agencies to investigate and seize USAID’s accounts in India, tracing the disbursal of funds under the alleged voter turnout project. He called such interference a “threat to India’s sovereignty” and hinted at possible legal consequences under laws against treason.
Former CEC SY Quraishi Denies Any Funding in 2012 MoU
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, responding to the controversy, clarified that the Election Commission had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in 2012 for training purposes. However, he stressed that no financing was involved in the agreement.
“Any mention of funds in connection with this MoU is completely false and malicious,” Quraishi said, dismissing allegations of foreign funding in India’s elections.
BJP Calls for Transparency Over Alleged Funding
As political tensions rise, the BJP has demanded full transparency regarding the alleged $21 million grant, questioning whether any Indian political entity benefited from it. The party has vowed to take necessary steps to prevent foreign influence in India’s democratic processes.
