US President Donald Trump for the fourth time in recent days claimed that the Biden administration allocated USD 21 million funding to India for “voter turnout”, evoking a sharp response from the Congress which urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “talk to his friend” and strongly refute the allegation.
The opposition party demanded a white paper on the funds received in India from developmental agencies, aid mechanisms and multilateral forums. It also sought legal action against the RSS-BJP and “their ecosystem” for making wild allegations against credible civil society members, NGOs and political parties.
In Washington, speaking at a 'Governors Working Session,' Trump said: “Twenty-one million dollars going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We're giving 21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too.” A video clipping from the event was posted on social media by the White House on Friday.
Trump also said that money went to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh to a firm that nobody ever heard of.
“Got USD 29 million. They got a check. Can you imagine? You have a little firm, you get 10,000 here, 10,000 there, and then we get 29 million from the United States government.
“Two people are working in that firm... I think they're very happy, they're very rich. They'll be on the cover of a very good business magazine pretty soon for being great scammers. USD 20 million for fiscal federalism, USD 90 million for biodiversity in Nepal and USD 47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia. Asia got a lot of money,” Trump said.
In New Delhi, reacting to Trump’s remarks, the Congress demanded a comprehensive white paper on the funds that political parties, individuals, NGOs, and organisations received from developmental agencies, aid mechanisms and multilateral forums.
“The white paper should not only focus on USAID funding, but all such agencies which fund both governments, individuals and all other entities under Indian law,” Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera told a press conference.
Khera said the Modi government, its ministers, its economic advisor, BJP’s IT department head, its ecosystem and “one-fourth media,” which acts as cheerleaders for the BJP are desperately tying themselves in knots to somehow prove their allegation of ‘deep state’ and ‘foreign intervention’ with regards to ‘USD 21 million USAID funds narrative.
Khera alleged that there is no record of a Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) programme matching US government's description in India.
On Thursday, at a Republican Governors Association meeting, Trump claimed that the USD 21 million funding to India for 'voter turnout' was a “kickback” scheme, as he continued to attack the previous Biden administration over the now cancelled financial aid.
“USD 21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India's turnout? We have got enough problems. We want our own turnout,” Trump said.
“I would say in many cases, many of these cases, anytime you have no idea what we’re talking about, that means there’s a kickback because nobody has any idea what’s going on there,” he said.
Follow us
