PM Narendra Modi
Credit: Reuters File Photo
Since the return of President Donald Trump to power in the United States, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been in focus.
A recent report by CNN-News18 revealed that the Indian Government under United Progressive Alliance (UPA) received nearly $204 million in funding from the USAID. However, under the BJP, it received only $1.5 million in funding from the USAID.
This comes at a time when Congress is demanding Narendra Modi government to bring out a White Paper United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) support to both governmental and non-governmental institutions in the country over the decades, even as it called US President Donald Trump's claims 'nonsensical'.
The remarks came after Trump said, "Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government...This is a total breakthrough."
BJP sources quoted in the report stated that the increased funding provided to the Government of India by USAID during the UPA era highlights the agency's and other foreign powers' heightened participation in India.
“It also highlights how the USAID and deep state were significantly involved in policy matters with their close allegiance to the Congress. This number dropped significantly during the NDA era, again showcasing how the Modi government has been able to keep foreign influences at bay," the source said.
Non-government entities under the Narendra Modi regime reportedly received a whopping $2579 million in funding from the USAID while during the UPA era $2114 million was received.
“This reveals how the focus has shifted from USAID being directly involved in government matters to funding anti-India or anti-national forums in India," a BJP leader claimed as per the report.
According to the figures assessed in the report, the funding patterns of the USAID reveal a marked increase during important political moments. The spike in funding was noticed when the NDA government was in power, ahead of elections, to influence policy decisions, strengthen civil society groups and shape political narratives in accordance to state interest, the source believes.
USAID funding rose from $121 million in 2001 to $154 million in 2002, and again from $83 million in 2020 to $228 million in 2022, just two years before the 2024 general elections, according to the report.
The BJP source according to the report said these figures of USAID funding underscores concerns about foreign efforts to shape India's political discourse, especially against the BJP.
(With DHNS inputs)