New Delhi: India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, has voiced serious concerns regarding allegations from the United States that millions of dollars were channelled into India to allegedly influence Indian elections. The controversy stems from statements made by former US President Donald Trump, who first raised the issue of a reported 21 million dollars earmarked for “voter turnout” in India.
Speaking at the Delhi University Literature Festival, Jaishankar emphasised the insidious nature of such interference, stating, “Your security can be threatened without you leaving your house because the thought processes, the influences, the narratives, your morale, your sense of what is right and wrong, are all influenced by your phone, what you read every day, the pictures you see.”
He directly addressed the information released by the Trump administration as “concerning,” suggesting a deliberate attempt to shape narratives and viewpoints within India.” I think some information has been put out there by the Trump administration people and obviously that is concerning,” the External Affairs Minister said.
Jaishankar highlighted the necessity for investigation, emphasising that organisations receiving such funding have a responsibility to report their activities transparently. He indicated to President Trump’s claim that the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had published a list of cancelled taxpayer-funded initiatives, including this 21 million dollar allocation. Jaishankar clarified that while the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has historically operated in India, the allegations suggest a breach of good faith, necessitating a thorough examination.
“It would suggest that there are activities which have a certain objective out there, to push a narrative or a viewpoint. As a government, we are looking into it because such organisations have an obligation to report. And my sense is, the facts will come out.”
The minister’s remarks follow a similar call from the BJP, who also demanded an investigation into the alleged funding, going so far as to allege the money was used to cultivate “deep state assets” in India. Trump himself further fueled the controversy by referring to the alleged 21 million dollars as part of a “kickback scheme.”
In response to these serious accusations, Indian investigative agencies have begun preliminary inquiries. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is reportedly scrutinising non-profit organisations, social workers, media companies, and business entities to identify potential conduits for the funds and determine whether any violations of anti-money laundering laws have occurred.
The investigation focuses on whether there was a transnational conspiracy to manipulate Indian electoral processes. This investigation underscores the seriousness with which the Indian government is treating these allegations of foreign interference in its domestic affairs.
