The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, claims to have cancelled US funds intended to influence “voter turnout in India,” prompting strong reactions. Sanjeev Sanyal, an advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has labeled the USAID agency the “biggest scam in human history” in response to the DOGE’s announcement.
The DOGE, investigating irregularities in US humanitarian funding under the Biden administration, cancelled funds for various projects, including $21 million for “voter turnout in India,” $29 million for strengthening Bangladesh’s political landscape, and $20 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal. The USAID, the US government’s largest humanitarian arm, is a primary target of the DOGE’s efforts to cut federal spending, reflecting a Trump-era initiative.
Read: “Not An Iota Of Fact”: Ex-Poll Body Chief Rejects DOGE’s India Funds Claim
The DOGE’s claim regarding funds for India’s “voter turnout” has raised concerns about “external interference” within the BJP, while a former chief election commissioner deemed the claim “baseless.” Sanyal questioned who in India received the $21 million, demanding transparency.
Sanyal’s statement, calling USAID the “biggest scam in human history,” further escalated the controversy. He also demanded an accounting of the $29 million allegedly spent to “strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh” and the $29 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal.
Read: Elon Musk’s DOGE Flags $21 Million For “Voter Turnout In India”, BJP Responds
SY Quraishi, former chief election commissioner (2010-2012), categorically denied the DOGE’s claims, stating there’s “not an iota of fact” supporting them. He clarified that while an MOU existed with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in 2012 for training, it involved no funding.
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The BJP’s Amit Malviya accused foreign forces of “systematic infiltration” of Indian institutions, citing the DOGE’s findings. He further implicated George Soros and his alleged global influence network, alleging their shadow over India’s electoral processes. Malviya claimed the Congress-led UPA government facilitated this infiltration.
“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 stated.
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