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USAID

Voters displaying identity cards while standing in queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (Photo courtesy: PIB)

USAID is the biggest scam in human history: PM Modi's adviser after DOGE's 'fund to improve voter turnout in India' claim

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Feb 17, 2025, at 02:06 pm

#USAid #Doge #SanjeevSanyal #PMAdviser #India #US #IndianElections #VoterTurnout

New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's adviser Sanjeev Sanyal has reacted to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)'s claim that the US funds were used by the Biden administration to improve the voter turnout in the Indian elections, media reports said.

In an X post, Sanyal wrote, "Would love to find out who received the US$21mn spent to improve "voter turnout in India" and the US$29mn to "strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh"; not to mention the US$29mn spend to improve "fiscal federalism" in Nepal. USAID is the biggest scam in human history."

Would love to find out who received the US$21mn spent to improve "voter turnout in India" and the US$29mn to "strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh"; not to mention the US$29mn spend to improve "fiscal federalism" in Nepal. USAID is the biggest scam in human history. pic.twitter.com/ccVHcnzWSj
— Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) February 16, 2025

The response came after DOGE, which is helmed by billionaire Elon Musk, has cancelled a $21 million US taxpayer-funded grant, initiated by former President Joe Biden's administration to influence "voter turnout in India."

In its announcement, DOGE stated the $21 million was part of a larger $486 million budget allocated to the "Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening."

Another $29 million was slated for "strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh" - a country that witnessed political turmoil amid allegations of US 'deep state' involvement in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled:
- $10M for "Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision"
- $9.7M for UC Berkeley to develop "a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills"
- $2.3M for "strengthening…
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 15, 2025

Several other funding for countries from Asia and Africa have also faced similar fate.

The sweeping cancellations were part of efforts to improve government efficiency and ensure taxpayer dollars were not being spent on "questionable" overseas political activities, DOGE stated.

BJP responds

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed the now-cancelled funding as "external interference" in India's electoral process.

"$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India's electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!" said BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya in a statement.

Once again, it is George Soros, a known associate of the Congress party and the Gandhis, whose shadow looms over our electoral process.

In 2012, under the leadership of S.Y. Quraishi, the Election Commission signed an MoU with The International Foundation for Electoral… https://t.co/PO13Iyroee pic.twitter.com/gdgAQoDbPh
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 16, 2025

Malviya further alleged "systematic infiltration" of Indian institutions by foreign forces, particularly targeting billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros and his alleged network of global influence through his Open Society Foundation.

"Once again, it is George Soros, a known associate of the Congress party and the Gandhis, whose shadow looms over our electoral process," Malviya claimed.

In response, Congress leader Raashid Alvi said, "The Government of India must probe into where the funds were used. It is a matter of investigation. It's not appropriate to accuse anyone solely on the basis of Elon Musk's claims."

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