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| US President Donald Trump defends DOGE move to cancel $21 million USAID on voter turnout in India(AP) |
Washington DC, Tamsil Shahezad Khan - Former U.S. President Donald Trump has defended the decision to cancel $21 million in U.S. taxpayer funding initially allocated for voter turnout efforts in India. The cancellation, announced by Elon Musk-led DOGE on February 16, has ignited a political controversy in India, with ruling and opposition parties clashing over foreign involvement in the country's electoral process.
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago while signing executive orders, Trump questioned the necessity of the funding. "Why are we giving USD 21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high," Trump stated, as reported by ANI. He added, "I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving USD 21 million for voter turnout?"
The DOGE-led initiative also cancelled an additional $22 million in U.S. taxpayer-funded allocations, with the India voter turnout funding listed among the terminated expenditures.
Political Fallout in India
The announcement has triggered intense political debate in India. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized the Congress party, suggesting foreign entities have been attempting to influence Indian institutions. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on X (formerly Twitter), "It is becoming increasingly evident that the Congress-led UPA systematically enabled the infiltration of India's institutions by forces opposed to the nation's interests—those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity."
Malviya further alleged that billionaire investor George Soros, known for his association with Congress and the Gandhi family, was exerting undue influence over India's electoral process.
The Congress party has distanced itself from any foreign involvement and called for an investigation. Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken told PTI, "The Congress party is clear that any kind of foreign intervention in our democratic process or election process is unwarranted and not correct, and we oppose it. It needs to be condemned and there should be a probe into it."
International Relations Impact
The controversy adds complexity to U.S.-India relations. While Trump has previously expressed admiration for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his criticism of India's trade policies and tariffs has been consistent. The cancellation of USAID funding aligns with his broader stance on limiting U.S. financial commitments abroad.
As India prepares for its upcoming general elections, the debate over foreign funding in Indian elections is likely to remain a significant point of contention in domestic politics.
