Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “tool for foreign agencies” following Donald Trump’s claim that USAID funds were used to interfere in India’s elections. The former US President alleged that the Joe Biden administration had allocated $21 million to India to “improve voter turnout,” insinuating that the funding was aimed at influencing the election outcome in India against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP leader Amit Malviya seized upon Trump’s remarks, asserting that they confirmed attempts to manipulate Indian elections. He accused Rahul Gandhi of actively seeking foreign intervention, recalling the Congress leader’s visit to London in 2023, where he reportedly urged Western powers to intervene in India’s democratic process. Malviya shared a video clip from that event, where Rahul Gandhi was heard saying that the erosion of democracy in India was not just an Indian issue but an international concern.
Malviya doubled down on BJP’s criticism, stating that Rahul Gandhi’s actions aligned with global forces attempting to undermine India’s interests. He accused the Congress leader of consistently seeking validation and support from foreign entities, which, according to him, revealed a deliberate effort to destabilize India’s governance.
Meanwhile, the Congress party responded to Trump’s remarks by demanding a white paper detailing the extent of USAID’s financial assistance to both governmental and non-governmental organizations in India. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed Trump’s comments as “nonsensical” but insisted that the government must release a comprehensive report outlining USAID’s involvement in India over the years.
Trump’s remarks, made at the Saudi-backed FII Priority Summit in Miami, have stirred significant political debate in India. His suggestion that the US government was “trying to get somebody else elected” has provided fresh ammunition to the BJP, which has long accused the opposition of seeking foreign validation. The BJP has used this latest controversy to further its narrative that the Congress party and its leadership are aligned with external forces against India’s national interests.
