New Delhi: A firestorm erupted between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress after American President Donald Trump alleged interference in India’s 2024 elections, prompting the BJP to launch a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya accused Gandhi of actively seeking foreign intervention in India’s internal affairs, citing Trump’s statement as evidence.
Trump, during an address at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami, claimed that the former US President Joe Biden’s administration had spent 21 million dollars on voter turnout in India in an attempt to influence the election results. He questioned the allocation of funds, stating, “Why do we need to spend 21 million dollars on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government… This is a total breakthrough.”
Malviya seized upon Trump’s remarks, linking them to a March 2023 interaction between Rahul Gandhi and the Indian Journalists’ Association in London. Malviya shared a video of this meeting on X, alleging that Gandhi had appealed to foreign powers, including the US and European nations, to intervene in India’s internal affairs ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Malviya further asserted that Gandhi had aligned himself with global networks aiming to undermine India’s strategic and geopolitical interests. He framed Gandhi’s actions as serving the interests of foreign agencies. Trump’s statement, according to Malviya, confirmed an attempt to influence the election outcome and prevent Prime Minister Modi’s re-election.
It is not just an Indian battle…
In March 2023, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Rahul Gandhi was in London, urging foreign powers—from the US to Europe—to intervene in India’s internal affairs.
He has aligned himself with global networks seeking to undermine India’s… pic.twitter.com/ojuoGJP8UP
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 20, 2025
“He has aligned himself with global networks seeking to undermine India’s strategic and geopolitical interests, acting as a tool for foreign agencies. Now, former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that there was indeed an attempt to influence the Indian election and install someone other than Prime Minister Modi,” Malviya posted on X.
The BJP’s Goa unit joined the offensive, questioning Gandhi’s visits to the US and UK, suggesting they were now suspect. The party implied a connection to a “Deep State,” asking what agreements Gandhi had made with foreign powers.
