Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 22: The controversy surrounding the reported $21 million USAID funding for voter turnout in India intensified, with the Congress demanding a white paper on the issue and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refute the allegations with US President Donald Trump.

Congress leader Pawan Khera dismissed the claims as false, citing a Washington Post report that found no evidence of such funding. He accused the BJP and RSS of spreading misinformation, questioning who actually benefited from USAID’s financial support in India.

“We have seen USAID’s involvement in Modi government initiatives like the Cashless India campaign and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. If USAID is such a pariah, why did the Modi government collaborate with them on multiple projects?” Khera asked.

The BJP has alleged that the Congress sought external influence in India’s electoral process. The row erupted after the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on February 16 that it had cancelled a supposed $21 million USAID grant for increasing voter turnout in India. Trump further called the funding a “kickback” scheme linked to the previous Biden administration.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern over the issue, terming it "deeply troubling" and raising alarms over possible foreign interference.