The BJP has requested an investigation into alleged US funding of $21 million designated for voter turnout in India, following remarks from former President Donald Trump. He claimed this funding operates as a “kickback scheme” and queried why the US allocates resources for India’s electoral processes while facing domestic issues. BJP leaders pointed to the potential use of these funds to support “deep state assets” in India, suggesting that Congress might be involved in these alleged kickbacks. The US Department of Government Efficiency recently canceled this funding, raising further questions about its intended use and implications for foreign interference in elections.
New Delhi:
The BJP has called for an investigation into alleged US funding of $21 million aimed at increasing voter turnout in India and potential “kickbacks”. This demand for a probe was made following US President Donald Trump’s initial mention of this alleged funding after succeeding former President Joe Biden.
The BJP contended that the funds were utilized to support “deep state assets” within India.
On Thursday, President Trump reiterated his concerns regarding the US government’s provision of $21 million for voter turnout in India, labeling it a “kickback scheme”. He also referenced $21 million allocated for enhancing the political landscape in Bangladesh and $19 million for biodiversity initiatives in Nepal.
“And $21 million for voter turnout in India. Why do we care about India’s turnout? We have enough issues here. Shouldn’t we focus on our own turnout? Can you believe that money is going to India? I wonder what their reaction is,” President Trump stated at the Republican Governors Association meeting.
“This is a kickback scheme. It’s not as if they receive it and utilize it; they funnel it back to the ones who sent it. In many situations, when there’s confusion about the subject, it indicates a kickback because nobody knows what’s happening there. $29 million for strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh. What does that even mean?” he added.
“$20 million for fiscal federalism, $19 million for biodiversity in Nepal, $47 million for improving educational outcomes in Asia. Why should I care about this? We have plenty of our own issues. All of this funding is being terminated. We are clearing the swamp,” President Trump remarked.
In response to the US president’s statements, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the mentioned funds of being used to “sustain deep state assets” in India who aim to protect and cover up such disclosures.
Sharing a video of President Trump on X, Mr. Malviya stated, “A day after US President Donald Trump raised the issue of $21 million directed to India for voter turnout, he has reiterated his claim. No, he isn’t mistaking it for the $29 million sent to Bangladesh. He’s also mentioned kickbacks this time. Essentially, this cash supports deep state assets that try to shield and obscure such facts. We’re witnessing the same patterns emerging in India.”
A day after US President Donald Trump spoke about $21 million being sent to India for voter turnout, he has reiterated the charge. And no, he is not confusing it with the $29 million funneled into Bangladesh. This time, he has also mentioned kickbacks. Essentially, this money is… pic.twitter.com/Eaj9uXcFx4
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 21, 2025
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called for a thorough investigation to determine whether Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his party were the “beneficiaries” of the said kickbacks.
“Donald Trump has stated for the second time that $21 million has been allocated for voter turnout in India. He describes it as a kickback scheme. An investigation is essential to ascertain whether Rahul Gandhi and the Congress ecosystem benefited from this scheme,” Mr. Bhandari noted on X.
Donald Trump for the second time has said that -“21 Million Dollar has gone to voter turnout in India”
Calls it a “Kick Back Scheme”
An investigation is must to find out if Rahul Gandhi & Congress ecosystem was beneficiary of this kickback scheme! pic.twitter.com/ivXb0tHubl
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) February 21, 2025
The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) released a list of cancelled US taxpayer-funded programs, including the $21 million allocated for “voter turnout in India.”
DOGE, led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of a $22 million fund aimed at “voter turnout in India” on February 16.
In a post on X, DOGE detailed the cancelled US taxpayer expenditures, which included “$21 million for voter turnout in India.”
On February 19, President Trump questioned the US allocation of $21 million for voter turnout efforts in India, drawing parallels to worries about foreign interference in American elections.
“Why do we need to allocate $21 million for voter turnout in India? It seems like they were trying to get someone else elected. We need to inform the Indian government… When we learned that Russia spent around two thousand dollars in our elections, it became a major issue. This is a significant breach,” President Trump commented at a summit in Miami, Florida.
The US President expressed his respect for India while questioning the rationale behind spending millions on voter turnout in another country.
“I have immense respect for India and its Prime Minister, who just left a couple of days ago. But we’re allocating $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about, like, our voter turnout here? Oh, I guess we’ve done that already. We allocated $500 million for that, didn’t we? It’s referred to as the lockboxes,” President Trump remarked.
With inputs from ANI