On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump came to the defense of the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) move to cancel a $21 million fund for 'voter turnout in India.' According to him, with India's growing economy and high tax rates, the nation did not need such funding.
"Why are we giving USD 21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving USD 21 million for voter turnout?" ANI quoted Trump as saying while signing executive orders at Mar-a-Lago.
The Elon Musk-head Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on February 16 cancelled a $22 million fund reserved for "voter turnout in India."
In a post on X, DOGE listed the amount of US taxpayer spending that had been cancelled, including "USD 21M for voter turnout in India."
"US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been cancelled," the Musk-led department announced.
The move was the subject of a huge controversy in India, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeting the opposition Congress on the issue.
“It is becoming increasingly evident that the Congress-led UPA systematically enabled the infiltration of India's institutions by forces opposed to the nation's interests - those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity,” BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on X.
Once again, he alleged, "It is the billionaire US-based investor George Soros, a known associate of the Congress party and the Gandhis, whose shadow looms over our electoral process."
Under attack from the BJP, the Congress demanded a probe.
"The Congress party is clear that any kind of foreign intervention in our democratic process or election process is unwarranted and not correct and we oppose it. It needs to be condemned and there should be a probe into it," PTI quoted senior Congress leader Ajay Maken as saying.
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