NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday called the concerns raised by former US President Donald Trump over a $21 million USAID funding for ‘voter turnout in India‘ “worrisome,” asserting that, “if there’s something to it, then the country should know who the people are involved in it.”
Speaking at the Delhi University Literature Festival, Jaishankar said, “Some information has been put out there by the Trump administration people, and obviously, that is concerning… I think, as a government, we’re looking into it. My sense is that the facts will come out…USAID was allowed here in good faith, to do good faith activities; now, suggestions are being laid out from America that there are activities which are in bad faith. It’s worrisome, and if there’s something to it, then the country should know who the people are involved in it.”
Earlier on Friday, during his address at the Governors working session, Trump fixated on fund to India for third day in a row stating: “$21 million 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.”
He also criticised funding of $29 million to a firm to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh.
This comes amid Trump’s ongoing attack on the USAID to strengthen democracy by giving aides to different countries. Earlier, Trump claimed that the US was trying to get somebody else elected in India.
“$21 million for voter turnout, why do we need to spend $21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected,” Trump had said.
Jaishankar also reflected on PM Modi’s visit to the United States, highlighting his meeting with Trump, and noted its significance in strengthening bilateral ties.
“The Prime Minister was in the US and Washington. He was among the earliest world leaders to be invited by President Trump in his second term to meet with him. I’ve been doing this all my life, so I have some reference points and experiences as a comparative assessment. I would say with all objectivity, I thought it went very well and for a variety of reasons,” Jaishankar said.
