BJP Raises Concerns Over DOGE’s $21 Million Grant Cancellation for…

The DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has canceled a $21 million grant to CEPPS for voter turnout in India. This decision has prompted BJP leaders to accuse the Congress party of enabling external interference in Indian elections. The controversy reflects ongoing tensions regarding foreign involvement in the democratic process, alongside rebuttals from former election officials declaring the absence of financial obligations in past agreements with foreign organizations.

On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of a $21 million grant to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) aimed at enhancing voter turnout in India. This decision led prominent BJP figures, Amit Malviya and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, to accuse the Opposition Congress of fostering external interference in India’s electoral process, sparking controversy on social media.

DOGE, in its official statement on X, emphasized that “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled.” Among these expenditures was $21 million designated for voter turnout efforts in India. The statement, however, did not specify the Indian organization that was set to receive this grant, and attempts to access the CEPPS and USAID websites were unsuccessful.

This grant cancellation aligns with a broader trend initiated by President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been reducing grants from previous administrations and terminating various USAID programs. In reaction to the announcement, Amit Malviya remarked on X: “$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!”

Rajeev Chandrasekhar also expressed his concerns on social media, characterizing the situation as “a smoking gun of interference and undermining of democracies.” He suggested that this incident highlighted the potential for foreign funding and manipulative influences behind various protests. He called for a comprehensive investigation into the funding origins linked to USAID.

According to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), a CEPPS partner, the organization comprises three leading entities that aim to collaboratively support elections and political transitions globally. Established in 1995 and primarily funded through USAID, CEPPS aims to deliver extensive democracy and governance programming internationally.

IFES previously entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Election Commission of India (ECI) in May 2012 to leverage their expertise for global electoral management. Malviya criticized Congress for allegedly compromising the integrity of the ECI by partnering with foreign agencies. In response, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi defended the MoU, clarifying that it did not involve any financial commitments but purely aimed at capacity building and training.

Quraishi addressed the accusations made against him, affirming that the MoU explicitly stated there would be no financial obligations between the parties involved, asserting, “Any mention of funds in connection with this MoU is completely false and malicious.” Meanwhile, the ECI did not provide any comments to inquiries made by The Indian Express regarding this matter.

In conclusion, the cancellation of the $21 million grant by DOGE has fueled allegations of external interference in Indian elections, particularly from the BJP towards the Congress party. With significant figures within the BJP expressing their discontent, it remains evident that this decision has sparked a heated political discourse surrounding foreign involvement in India’s democratic processes. Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi’s clarifications have sought to counter the accusations regarding the MoU with IFES, emphasizing the absence of financial obligations involved.

Original Source: indianexpress.com