Donald Trump Usaid Program: The recent statement by US President Donald Trump has created a controversy, claiming that India was given $ 21 million from the US to increase the voter turnout. Trump repeatedly claimed without any evidence that the funding was done from the Biden administration. It could be used to intervene in India’s elections. However, a report by Washington Post has proved this claim wrong. The American newspaper has claimed that such funding is not being done to India. This issue has intensified the political struggle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party in India.
Donald Trump first expressed concern that $ 21 million was given to India to increase the voter turnout in the elections there. According to him, these funds were given for the election related activities of India under the Biden administration. He questioned the use of American taxpayers’ money for such motives. However, he did not give any concrete evidence of this allegation, yet this claim came into the limelight rapidly.
Washington Post report revealed
The Washington Post published a report on this statement of President Trump, stating that according to USAID officials and internal program data, there is no record of any such program. In fact, USAID’s $ 21 million contract was for Bangladesh instead of India.
American and Indian officials response
In response to Trump’s statement, USAID officials said that they are amazed by this allegation. A senior official said that the organization has never been involved in the Indian elections, which proved Trump’s claim to be baseless. Another official confirmed that the US government has no record of any such program, which confirms the Washington Post report. In India, this issue was immediately made a political weapon. BJP accused Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi of seeking foreign aid so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi Could weaken the leadership of However, the Congress party reversed the Washington Post report vigorously.
Congress reverses BJP
Congress spokesperson Pawan Kheda targeted the BJP citing the report of the Washington Post. Kheda tweeted that after this revelation, “BJP and its blind supporters would have to face the face”, showing that Trump’s false claim has caused controversy without any reason. This statement of Kheda pointed out the criticism of the BJP, in which the party accused the opposition leaders of taking support from foreign forces.
What was the whole matter of funding?
The investigation of the Washington Post also revealed that the funding program of USAID was actually for Bangladesh, not for India. The $ 21 million contract was part of a large package of $ 486 million, which was given through Consortium for Elements and Political Process Strength (CEpps) to strengthen the election process in various countries.
The objective of USAID has been to support democratic institutions worldwide, but the claim of direct intervention in any country’s elections has been strictly rejected by the organization. India, the world’s largest democracy, has always ensured that its election is free from any foreign influence and in the midst of this controversy, Indian authorities repeated this stance again.
https://www.abplive.com/news/world/washington-post-rejected-donald-trump-claim-that-india-was-given-21-million-to-increase-voter-turnout-was-no-such-usaid-program-2890416
