The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for an investigation into allegations of $21 million in US funding for voter turnout in India, which they claim was part of a “kickback scheme.” This demand follows remarks made by former US President Donald Trump, who questioned the allocation of funds for voter turnout in India and other initiatives in South Asia during a Republican Governors Association meeting.
Trump criticized the US government’s allocation of 21 million for voterturnout in India for strengthening Bangladesh’s political landscape, and $19 million for biodiversity in Nepal, among other expenditures. He described these allocations as part of a “kickback scheme,” suggesting that the funds were being misused or returned to those who sent them. Trump emphasized that the US has its own domestic issues to address and questioned why such large sums were being sent abroad.
In response, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the US of using the funds to sustain “deep state assets” in India, who allegedly work to suppress or deflect such revelations. Malviya shared Trump’s video on social media platform X, reiterating the BJP’s concerns and drawing parallels to similar patterns of alleged foreign interference in India.
The BJP’s call for a probe underscores growing tensions over foreign influence in India’s domestic affairs, particularly in the context of elections and political funding. The party has not provided concrete evidence to support its claims but has emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in how such funds are utilized.
This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign funding and its potential impact on India’s political landscape. The BJP’s allegations and Trump’s comments have sparked a debate about the role of international financial assistance in domestic politics and the need for greater oversight to prevent misuse.
