BJP Demands Probe into 'Deep State' Angle Amid Trump's 'Kickback Scheme' Remark on $21Mn Funding Row

New Delhi: The controversy surrounding US funding for voter turnout in India has triggered a strong political reaction, with the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) demanding an investigation. The party claims that the USD 21 million allocation was used to sustain ‘deep-state assets’ in India.

The issue gained traction after US President Donald Trump, addressing the Republican Governors Association (RGA) meeting, once again raised concerns over American taxpayer money being spent on voter turnout in India. Calling it a ‘kickback scheme,’ he also questioned similar allocations for Bangladesh and Nepal, adding that such expenditures needed to be scrapped.  

Trump said, "And USD 21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems. We want our own turnout, don't we? Can you imagine all that money going to India? I wonder what they think when they get it. Now, it's a kickback scheme. You know, it's not like they get it and they spend, they kick it back to the people that send it."

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, sharing Trump’s remarks, alleged that the funds were being used to defend and deflect such revelations. “This money is also used to sustain deep-state assets,” he posted on X, hinting at a larger conspiracy.  

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari took the attack further, calling for an investigation into whether the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi were beneficiaries of these alleged “kickbacks.”

The row escalated after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of the USD 21 million funding. A list of scrapped US taxpayer-funded projects, posted by DOGE, included the India voter turnout initiative.  

BJP Calls Rahul Gandhi a ‘Traitor’

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, in a strongly worded statement, called Gandhi a ‘traitor’ and alleged that he was working with external elements to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and destabilise the country’s electoral process.  

At a press conference in Delhi, Bhatia questioned Gandhi’s silence on foreign interference in Indian politics, particularly in the context of billionaire investor George Soros. “Many of us have raised concerns about foreign agencies meddling in Indian elections, especially against Modi ji. Why should a foreign agency be involved in any way in our electoral process?” he said.  

Bhatia claimed that Gandhi’s opposition to Modi stemmed from his "hatred for India" and that he was seeking external support to defeat the prime minister. “He is taking help from foreign forces. They are not just after Modi ji; they want to destroy India’s democracy because, under his leadership, India has become a global leader,” he said.  

The BJP has also pointed to recent claims of US funding for voter turnout in India, calling it a direct attempt at political interference. Bhatia accused Gandhi and his party of benefiting from such foreign initiatives while maintaining silence when questioned about it.  

Rahul's Old Video Asking For Foreign Intervention Resurfaced 

Amid the raging controversy over USAID's meddling in India's elections, a video from March 2023 exposed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi 's blatant call for foreign intervention in India's internal affairs. A video from March 2023 resurfaced, in which Gandhi, during his London visit, was seen urging Western powers to interfere in India's democracy.  

In the clip, he can be heard saying, “The so-called defenders of democracy—the US, European countries—seem oblivious that a huge chunk of the democratic model has come undone. This is a real problem.” The BJP has slammed these remarks, calling them a direct attempt to invite foreign forces into India’s political landscape.  

The timing of this revelation is significant, as it comes just after US President Donald Trump raised concerns over alleged US funding to influence Indian elections. BJP leaders have linked Trump's claims with Gandhi’s past statements, arguing that this is not just a coincidence but a well-orchestrated attempt to destabilise India’s democracy.  

About USAID

Established in 1961, USAID oversees an annual budget exceeding $40 billion, primarily dedicated to development, health, and humanitarian initiatives worldwide, with a focus on underprivileged nations. Following his return to office, President Trump implemented a near-total freeze on foreign aid, while Elon Musk independently declared DOGE’s plan to dismantle USAID entirely.