At an event in Miami on Wednesday (February 19), Donald Trump questioned why $21 million had been spent to boost voters’ turnout in India. He suggested that the money may have been used to support a different candidate in the election and to dislodge the present incumbent. Trump also said the Indian government should be informed about this, calling it a “major revelation”.

BJP politicians have urged a thorough investigation into the involvement of US-backed organizations in India’s internal affairs. They claim that such groups as the USAID, George Soros’ ‘Open Society Foundations’ (OSF), and the ‘National Endowment for Democracy’ (NED) are deeply embedded within India’s system. These organizations, often linked to covert operations, are believed to influence various sectors, including politics, media and civil society. The politicians argue that their activities should be closely examined to ensure transparency and protect India’s national interests.

A BJP leader has urged an investigation into individuals and organizations linked to USAID, claiming that it is essential to uncover the true purpose of its activities in India. He alleged that influential groups, often referred to as ‘Deep State assets’, were working behind the scenes to shape public opinion by influencing politicians, social leaders, academics, think tanks, media and the civil society. He says these groups are particularly focussed on promoting an anti-government narrative targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized the need for transparency to prevent external forces from interfering in India’s internal affairs.

Since 2014, critics of the government have often claimed that Prime Minister Modi, and the BJP, are a threat to minorities and lower-caste communities. This view has been echoed in reports by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which has even mentioned such BJP leaders as Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

BJP politician Rodrigues shared this perspective in an interview with the Russian media outlet, Sputnik. The BJP leader claims that groups linked to USAID and George Soros have tried to take advantage of political and religious divisions in India, whenever possible. During the COVID pandemic, some major media outlets overstated the challenges faced by the Modi government in managing the crisis.

The BJP leader pointed out that, during the farmers’ protests and the anti-Citizens’ Amendment Act (CAA) protests during Prime Minister Modi’s second term, some organizations and American influencers backed the anti-government narrative. He stated that USAID was a key supporter of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, which has been accused of being involved in illegal religious conversions in India.

George Soros, a billionaire investor and philanthropist, funds organizations in India through his Open Society Foundations (OSF). His initiatives focus on human rights, democracy and media freedom. Critics argue that his influence shapes political narratives, while supporters see his work as promoting transparency and social justice.

An investigation by Disinfo Lab—(the disinfolab.org), a research group that investigates misinformation, foreign influence and hidden agendas in media and politics and analyses funding sources, propaganda networks and efforts to manipulate public opinion—claims that USAID funds have been directed to groups involved in Kashmir’s separatist movement—the USCIRF, Islamist organizations and anti-Hindutva groups. The report also states that Soros-backed OSF has helped distribute USAID money to other organizations that oppose PM Modi.

The partnership between USAID and India goes back to the 1950s when the US started providing food aid to support India’s food programmes. This assistance continued for many years and, finally, ended in 2012. Until 2021, USAID played a key role in funding India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS), which gave it access to important data about Indian families. In 2011, India’s Election Commission partnered with the USAID-supported International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) to share, and adopt, best practices for elections.

Since 2014, USAID has partnered with India in various initiatives, including promoting cashless payments and helping the Indian Railways work towards net-zero emissions. In 2023, USAID provided approximately $175.71 million in funding to India. This included $7.43 million for programmes related to democracy, human rights and governance, as reported by USAspending.gov.

USAID’s role in India—both in government and civil society—juxtaposed besides claims that it tried to remove PM Modi, has led to political controversy. The ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress have both accused each other of working with foreign influences. Both parties have called for an investigation into USAID’s activities. On Thursday (February 20), a day after Trump’s statement, the Congress also demanded a ‘White Paper’ on the issue.

The CEO of Usanas Foundation, a think tank, told Sputnik that USAID’s ties with 15 Indian government agencies, civil society groups and think tanks revealed a possible risk of foreign influence on India’s open and democratic system. The CEO explained that Indian organizations registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) can work with foreign groups. However, what counts as ‘interference’ is a complicated—and widely debated—topic.

“We need to find out which politicians, community leaders, or media outlets they may have contacted to influence voters’ turnout. It is possible that those receiving USAID support could spread its agenda to Indian voters through social media and face-to-face meetings,” the CEO said. He expressed concern about hidden foreign influence in India’s bureaucracy and pointed out that officials with family in the US could be at risk of pressure or blackmail. He also noted that receiving US training might make them more vulnerable to such influence.

The CEO suggested that there was a slight chance that the Deep State and USAID were involved in bringing down the previous Congress-led UPA government by backing the Anti-Corruption Movement before the 2014 election. The think tank chief suggested that the Deep State might not have received the support it expected from the Modi government. As a result, it might have changed approach and worked towards removing the BJP in the 2019 and 2024 elections.

However, the reports claiming that India received $21 million from USAID to influence voter turnout in elections have been proven false. The Indian Express investigated this claim and found that no such funds were given to India. Instead, a total of $23.6 million was allocated to Bangladesh under USAID’s ‘Elections’ category.

This fact was further confirmed by India Today’s Data Intelligence Unit (DIU), which independently verified the details. According to their findings, of the total amount given to Bangladesh, $18.1 million was provided to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), an international organization that supports democratic processes. The remaining funds were distributed among other agencies involved in electoral support programmes.

In simple terms, the claim that India received money from USAID for its elections is incorrect. The actual funding was directed towards election-related initiatives in Bangladesh, and not India. (IPA Service)