Trump now calls USAID funds to India kickback scheme, BJP targets Rahul Gandhi

The BJP was quick to latch on to Trump's latest remarks to accuse Rahul Gandhi of seeking foreign intervention ahead of the 2024 election, citing his comments at an event in London.

In Short

• Trump again rakes up $21 million funding to India for 'voter turnout'
• Comes day after he hinted at meddling in 2024 Lok Sabha polls
• BJP points to Rahul Gandhi's remarks in UK to attack Congress

Continuing to harp on the USAID funding to India for "voter turnout", US President Donald Trump on Friday called it "a kickback scheme" without elaborating or giving evidence on who benefitted from it. The BJP was quick to latch on to Trump's latest remarks to accuse Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of seeking foreign intervention ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, citing his comments at an event in London.

"$21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems... it's a kickback scheme, you know," Trump said at a Republican Governors' conference.

The mercurial President made the remarks while he was listing out the USAID foreign aid initiatives cancelled by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been tasked with slashing government spending.

"In many cases, many of these cases actually, you have no idea what we’re talking about. That means there's a kickback because nobody has any idea what's going on," Trump said.

Trump's latest allegation comes a day after he questioned his predecessor Joe Biden's move to grant $21 million to India for "voter turnout" and indicated that it might have been used for meddling in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"USD 21 million for voter turnout in India. Why do we need to spend USD 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they (the Biden administration) were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government... This is a total breakthrough," he said.

BJP REACTS TO 'KICKBACKS' CHARGE

The BJP was swift to target the Congress, with BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan referring to Rahul Gandhi's remarks at an event in the UK in 2023 to allege that he urged "foreign powers" to intervene in India's internal affairs.

"Trump's statement is a smoking gun that exposes the dangerous role of a foreign hand interfering and attempting to influence the outcome of elections in India. It should be looked at closely in conjunction with Rahul Gandhi's statement in London that he made just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls," Kesavan told India Today.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya alleged that the USAID funds to India were used to sustain "deep-state assets".

"A day after Trump spoke about $21 million being sent to India for voter turnout, he reiterated the charge. He is not confusing it with the $29 million funnelled into Bangladesh. This time, he 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," he tweeted.

The Bangladesh reference is likely to an investigative report by the Indian Express that said the $21 million USAID fund was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, and not India.