Trump’s New ‘Kickback Scheme’ Remark on $21Mn USAID to India Triggers Fresh Row | What We Know

Washington: US President Doanld Trump has once again raised the ongoing issue of $21 million USAID funding for 'voter turnout' in India, calling it a 'kickback scheme' and saying Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems."

Addressing the Republican Governors Association (RGA) meeting, the US President 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. I would say in many cases, many of these cases, anytime you have no idea what we're talking about, that means there's a kickback because nobody has any idea what's going on there. USD 29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. Nobody knows what they mean by political landscape. What does that mean?"

He further added, "USD 20 million for fiscal federalism and USD 19 million for biodiversity in Nepal, USD 47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia. What the hell do I care about? We got a lot. We got enough problems and all of this is terminated. We terminated this stuff and we're on the track. And by the way, there were so many others I could have I could read all night long, but so many were so terrible, and were actually disgusting. And I know you're eating your dinner, so I didn't want to do that but we're draining the swamp."

BJP Demands Probe into 'Deep State' Angle Amid Trump's Remark

Amid the controversy over US funding trying to influence voter turnout in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) has demanded a thorough investigation claiming that the fund was used to sustain ‘deep-state assets’ in India.

Sharing Trump's video on X, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya alleged that the funds were being used to defend and deflect such revelations. “A day after US President Donald Trump spoke about $21 million being sent to India for voter turnout, he has reiterated the charge. And no, he is not confusing it with the $29 million funnelled into Bangladesh. This time, he has also mentioned kickbacks. Essentially, this money is also used to sustain deep-state assets who work to defend and deflect such revelations. We are now witnessing the same pattern unfold in India," Maviya said on X.

Furthermore, 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.”

BJP Calls Rahul Gandhi a ‘Traitor’

In a recent press briefing BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, in a strongly worded statement, called Rahul 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.  

“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.  

These claims come as 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.