India Clears Air On USAID Funding As Congress Pushes Its 'Destabilisation Agenda'

The recent row over the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding in India has sparked a heated political debate. U.S.

President Donald Trump's comments that USAID funds were used to influence voter turnout in India have been categorically denied by the Indian government.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI, Pexels

Data from the Finance Ministry has clarified that USAID's financial involvement in India is strictly limited to developmental projects and does not extend to electoral processes.

However, the Congress party has attempted to use this issue to further its anti-government narrative, a recurring theme in its efforts to destabilise India.

Photo Credit: PTI

USAID Funding in India: Facts vs. Allegations

The Finance Ministry's 2023-24 annual report mentions that USAID was involved in seven projects in India, with a total funding of approximately $750 million. These projects were primarily focusing on agriculture, water sanitation, renewable energy, disaster management and health. It must be noted, there was no mention of funds allocated for voter turnout initiatives.

Contrary to Trump's allegations, investigative reports revealed that the $21 million in question was actually designated for Bangladesh in 2022 to support political and civic engagement among students ahead of their 2024 elections. Out of this, $13.4 million had already been disbursed before Trump's claims surfaced. Despite these clarifications, Trump reiterated his stance, further complicating the diplomatic situation.

Photo Credit: PTI

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar firmly addressed the issue, stating that USAID operates in India in good faith and that allegations of election interference were baseless. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also called Trump's claims "deeply troubling" and emphasized that India's electoral process remains independent and sovereign.

Photo Credit: PTI

Congress's Role in Pushing Anti-India Narratives?

While the USAID controversy should have ended with these clarifications, the opposition, Congress, has attacked the government, leveraging foreign-backed allegations of electoral interference. Many say, this is not the first time Congress has aligned itself with international entities to push an anti-India agenda.

The OCCRP Conspiracy

Congress has frequently used reports from the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) to discredit the Cenral government and major Indian businesses. These reports, though repeatedly debunked by courts and investigative agencies, have been presented in Parliament to disrupt proceedings. The Pegasus spyware controversy and allegations were both fueled by OCCRP reports, which Congress leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi, amplified to undermine the country's economic and political stability.

Photo Credit: PTI

Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi has been linked to Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, a Bangladeshi journalist and former OCCRP fellow. Bangladesh's interim government later appointed him as an ambassador in 2024. This raises concerns about Congress's association with global entities working to destabilise South Asia.

The Asia Foundation and its CIA Links

The Asia Foundation, another entity with a history of interference, was established in 1954 as a covert CIA operation. It has been funded by the Ford Foundation, part of George Soros's network. It is known to have historically supported Pakistan's stance on Jammu & Kashmir. Congress's indirect alignment with such organisations raises serious questions about its commitment to India's sovereignty.

Freedom House and the Global Smear Campaign

Photo Credit: https://x.com/georgesoros

Freedom House, heavily funded by George Soros's Open Society Foundations (OSF), has persistently labeled India as 'Partly Free' since 2021, accusing the government of suppressing minorities. This organisation has worked with international media in Five Eyes countries to propagate a biased narrative against India. Despite being a U.S.-based entity, Freedom House partners with USAID, further intertwining foreign influence in domestic political discourse.

Many critics say, Congress's desperation to regain power has led it to align with international agencies notorious for election interference.

CEPPS Funding for Voter Turnout

The Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), backed by USAID, has been accused of influencing elections worldwide. Reports suggest that USAID funneled 21 million USD into India for 'voter turnout' via CEPPS during the 2014 elections, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power.

USCIRF's Religious Freedom Reports

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), lobbied by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), has repeatedly attempted to classify India as a 'Country of Particular Concern.' This lobbying effort, backed by U.S-based groups, has reportedly been used to malign India on the global stage.

India's Stand Against Foreign Interference

New Delhi has time and again made it clear that foreign entities will not dictate its electoral or governance processes. The MEA and Finance Ministry's detailed clarifications on USAID funding have debunked allegations of election interference. The BJP government also claims to have exposed how Congress has been complicit in leveraging foreign-backed narratives.

While Congress claims to be following the democratic rules, its willingness to collaborate with foreign entities, many with ties to intelligence agencies and vested geopolitical interests, raises concerns about its real motivations. By pushing misleading narratives and weaponising global reports, Congress has not only attempted to weaken the national government but also tarnished India's image internationally.