The newly created United States Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by billionaire Elon Musk, has cancelled a $21 million grant to boost the voter turnout in Indian elections.
The USAID grant approved by the previous administration led by former US President Joe Biden is funded by American taxpayers. It is part of a $486 million budget allocated to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening. USAID is an American government agency providing funds to promote global development, economic growth and humanitarian aid.
- $486M to the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,” including $22M for "inclusive and participatory political process" in Moldova and $21M for voter turnout in India.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 15, 2025
$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral… https://t.co/DsTJhh9J2J
However, the BJP alleged that the USAID funding was an external interference in India's elections. "Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!" posted BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya.
Malviya also raised concerns about the 2012 MoU inked by the Election Commission of India and the International Foundation of Electoral Systems, which is linked to George Soros-led Open Society Foundation. He said the previous UPA government led by the Congress let foreign entities infiltrate into Indian institutions and weaken the country.
US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled:
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 15, 2025
- $10M for "Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision"
- $9.7M for UC Berkeley to develop "a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills"
- $2.3M for "strengthening…
On February 11, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that the USAID collaborated with Soros and the Congress to destabilise India. This was regarding an earlier revelation regarding Rs 5,000 crore being given as USAID to the Soros foundation. He asked whether the foundation gave money to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.
The remaining funds were granted for other countries in Asia, Africa and eastern Europe. These included $29M to "strengthen political landscape" in Bangladesh and $20M for "fiscal federalism" and $19M for "biodiversity conversation" in Nepal.
Dubey had also alleged that USAID was behind fall of a Hindu republic in Nepal and the current crisis in Bangladesh.
