New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s adviser, Sanjeev Sanyal, has responded to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s claims regarding US funds aimed at influencing voter turnout in India’s elections.
Sanyal, in a post on X, questioned the $21 million reportedly spent to improve “voter turnout in India” and the $29 million for “strengthening political landscapes” in Bangladesh and Nepal. He criticized USAID, calling it “the biggest scam in human history.”
This follows DOGE’s decision to cancel a $21 million grant, initially allocated by the Biden administration to the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.” The grant was part of a broader $486 million budget. Other funds aimed at political activities in Bangladesh and Nepal were also canceled.
DOGE’s cancellations were part of efforts to ensure taxpayer money was not spent on “questionable” political activities abroad. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has labeled the funding as “external interference” in India’s elections, with BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya accusing foreign forces, including George Soros, of infiltrating Indian institutions.
Congress leader Raashid Alvi, however, called for a probe into the use of these funds, questioning the credibility of the claims based solely on Elon Musk’s statements.
