The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has sparked a political storm by revealing that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $21 million for “voter turnout” operations in India.
Following this, Mahesh Jethmalani, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member has called for an investigation into the alleged role of Veena Reddy, former head of USAID’s India mission and US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti in the fund allocation to manipulate the election system.
According to Jethmalani, this funding might be a “euphemism” for influencing voters to facilitate regime change. The controversy gained momentum after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, reportedly claimed to have cancelled these funds.
Veena Reddy, appointed head of USAID’s India mission in 2021, left her position and returned to the US after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to Jethmalani, her departure coincided suspiciously with the conclusion of her “voter turnout mission.”
Another person that Jethmalani highlighted is the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, who allegedly worked closely with Reddy to implement USAID’s objectives. Concerns have been raised that if questioned about the voter turnout strategy, Garcetti might invoke diplomatic immunity.
“So #DOGE has discovered that #USAID allocated $21million for “voter turnout” in India ,a euphemism for paying voters to cast their votes to effect regime change. #VeenaReddy was sent to India in 2021 ( ominous?) as head of USAIDs Indian mission . Post #loksabha elections 2024 ( presumably her voter turnout mission done) she returned to the US. Pity because investigating agencies here could have asked her some questions about who this money was given to for applying it to voter turnout operations. She worked in close tandem here with US Ambassador #Garcetti in executing the agency’s objectives. Doubtless he will plead diplomatic immunity if asked about the voter turnout modus operandi,” reads Jethmalani’s tweet.
Jethmalani has urged Indian investigative agencies to seize USAID’s accounts in India and trace the disbursement of the $21 million. He emphasised the need to uncover any individuals or organisations complicit in using these funds to subvert India’s democratic processes.
“And of course USAIDs foreign objectives were directed by it’s ex Secretary of State( #AnthonyBlinken at the time) who will shed no light on the matter. So it’s up to our agencies vested with the power to protect the integrity and sovereignty of India to seize USAIDs accounts in India and follow the disbursal trail of the $21 million earmarked for the voter turnout project and unearth the stooges of rhe Democratic Deep State. They should then be visited with the full force of the law dealing with subverting the Indian State – in common parlance TREASON,” further read Jethmalani’s tweet.
The allegations have also sparked backlash, with Sanjeev Sanyal, a key adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labelling USAID the “biggest scam in human history.”