NEW DELHI: Brushing aside Congress’s claim that President Trump had falsely asserted that USAID granted $21 million for “voter turnout” in India, BJP on Friday sharpened its attack on the opposition party and accused Rahul Gandhi of colluding with foreign forces in his bid to weaken India.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia dubbed the Congress’s claim, which was based on a newspaper report claiming that the USAID money was spent for improving voter turnout in Bangladesh, a cover-up. “The disclosure (about USAID funding to India) came from the US President himself, nobody else could have a better knowledge about it,” he said.
He also cited the US department of government efficiency’s (DOGE) post on X that specifically mentioned funding of $21 million for “voter turnout” in India, and alleged that Gandhi family sympathisers were spreading lies.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that the media report suggesting that the money was meant for Bangladesh was a cover-up for foreign funding through George Soros’s Open Society Foundation.
Bhatia claimed USAID funding came to India to meddle with internal politics and disrupt electoral politics.”More than $2,000 million came to govt in India from 2004 to 2013 during the UPA regime. Just $1.5 million has come during Modi’s term. It’s because they know that Modi will not sell India and India’s interests to any foreign power,” he said.
Calling Rahul Gandhi a “traitor”, Bhatia claimed, “While funding for govt (in India) stopped, there was an increase in funding for NGOs during Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra to strengthen him ahead of the polls in an attempt to defeat Modi.” Rahul’s yatra was aimed at “breaking India”, he added.