Congress launched a sharp attack on the BJP, asking the Narendra Modi government to clarify US President Donald Trump's allegation about United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds, an independent US civilian foreign aid and development assistance agency.
In a press conference, Pawan Khera, chairman of the AICC Media & Publicity Department, highlighted three key developments that challenge the BJP’s allegations. First, Trump, in a recent speech, mentioned that "$21 million was going to my friend PM Modi in India for voter turnout".
Khera said that the fact-checks by multiple Indian media outlets and the Washington Post have debunked this claim, stating that the funds in question were directed to Bangladesh, and not India.
"If the funds were directed to Bangladesh, to destabilise the government, doesn't it mean that the Modi government conspired against the Bangladesh government while they had been claiming it to be a friend," Khera said.
He accused the BJP and its ecosystem of deliberately fabricating misleading narratives. He pointed out that the Union government had failed to clarify how USAID funds were used in India, despite the significant financial support received over the years.
also read
- June 2025 Visa Bulletin brings no relief for Indian green card aspirants
- Trump’s Saudi sojourn: Deals, diplomacy and a royal welcome
- Trump says India, Pakistan should 'have dinner together'. Analysts think US stance complicates matters for India
- 'A chance at peace': Trump to lift sanctions on Syria, improve bilateral relations
He noted that between 2001 and 2024, USAID disbursed $2.9 billion to India, with 44.4 per cent of the funds allocated during the BJP-led NDA rule (2014-2024), compared to 41.3 per cent under the Congress-led UPA (2004-2013).
Congress also questioned why the Modi government remained unaware of USAID’s funding in neighbouring Bangladesh and why an agreement between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) was updated in 2020 under BJP rule.
Khera pointed out that USAID funds had previously been linked to major government initiatives like Digital India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, raising further questions about the BJP’s stance on foreign aid.
Earlier, the BJP had repeated its allegation that opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was colluding with foreign powers to undermine the NDA government, claiming he resorted to such tactics due to his inability to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi electorally.
