U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that the United States allocated $21 million to enhance voter turnout in India's elections has ignited a political dispute within the country.

 

This statement followed a report from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which revealed that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had canceled funding for several projects, including the $21 million earmarked for voter turnout in India.

 

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) labeled the funding as "external interference" and accused the opposition Congress party of seeking such intervention.

 

In response, India's foreign ministry expressed deep concern over the claims, describing them as "deeply troubling."

 

Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that it was "premature" to make public statements about the matter at this stage and that relevant authorities were investigating it.

 

President Trump, aiming to bolster the U.S. economy, established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) upon returning to office. DOGE's mission, according to Musk, is to save taxpayer money and reduce national debt.

 

A significant action by DOGE was the crackdown on USAID, which Musk has criticized as a "criminal organization." On Sunday, Musk announced the cancellation of funding for several projects, including $486 million for the "Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening," which encompassed the $21 million for voter turnout in India and $22 million for an inclusive political process in Moldova.

 

Defending DOGE's cuts, President Trump remarked that India "had a lot of money" and was among the world's highest-taxing nations. He further questioned the necessity of spending $21 million on "India's voter turnout."

 

These comments came a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Washington under Trump's second term, during which Trump announced expanded military sales, increased energy exports, and plans for a trade deal and new defense framework.

 

"I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government," President Trump said at a summit in Miami.

 

On the same day, BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a clip of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaking at an event in London before the 2024 general election. In the clip, Gandhi can be heard saying that major democracies like the U.S. and European countries were "oblivious that a huge chunk of democratic model has come undone [in India]."

 

"Rahul Gandhi was in London, urging foreign powers—from the U.S. to Europe—to intervene in India's internal affairs," Malviya alleged in his post on X.