The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, has stirred controversy with its claim that it cancelled $21 million in US funds meant to influence voter turnout in India. The revelation has drawn strong reactions, with a key adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sanjeev Sanyal, calling the USAID agency the “biggest scam in human history.”
Foreign interference allegation
The DOGE, which investigates irregularities in US humanitarian funding under the Biden administration, recently announced that it had revoked funds earmarked for various global projects. These included $21 million for “voter turnout in India,” $29 million for “strengthening the political landscape” in Bangladesh, and $20 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal. The claim regarding India has fuelled concerns within the ruling BJP about potential foreign influence in the country’s electoral process.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to PM Modi, questioned who in India had received the $21 million in alleged US funding. He labelled USAID as a massive scam and demanded accountability regarding the funds reportedly allocated for India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. His remarks followed a strong rebuttal from SY Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, who dismissed the claims as “baseless.”
“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,” Sanyal’s post on X stated.
The BJP has intensified its stance against what it sees as foreign interference. Party spokesperson Amit Malviya alleged a “systematic infiltration” of Indian institutions by external forces, including billionaire investor George Soros. He accused the Congress-led UPA of enabling such influences, claiming that these forces aim to weaken India.
