The MEA’s official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said on Friday, “We have seen information that has been put out by the US administration regarding certain USAID activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs. Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter. It would be premature to make a public comment at this stage… relevant authorities are looking into this matter and hopefully, we can come up with an update on that subsequently.”

Since the DOGE announcement, the ruling BJP has accused the opposition Congress of using alleged external influence in India’s election process.

US President Donald J Trump, in a speech in Miami Wednesday, said, “Why do we need to spend $21m for voter turnout in India? Wow, $21m! I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected.”

Facts, however, show all may have jumped the gun. That $21 million, as reported by The Indian Express on Friday, was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India.

Of this, $13.4 million has already been disbursed, ostensibly for “political and civic engagement” among Bangladesh students in the run-up to the January 2024 elections and projects that put a question mark on the integrity of these elections — seven months before the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.-Agencies