US Embassy in India confirmed Trump's claims false: MEA
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New Delhi: Over the statement by the US President Donald Trump last February that USAID paid $21 million to Narendra Modi for voter turnout, the Ministry of External Affairs told the parliament that the US Embassy has said that no such funds were received or given by India or USAID between 2014 and 2024, The Wire reported.
USAID, or the United States Agency for International Development, is a taxpayer-funded aid organisation that the Trump administration dismantled.
When Trump issued the claim that USAID paid Modi, the initial reaction by supporters of the BJP government at the Centre was that it could likely be the Congress who received the funds, and the BJP itself called the amount proof of Congress having allowed “external interference.
But, days later, Trump again appeared, saying that the money was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India for voter turnout. This led to opposition clamouring for an investigation into the matter.
John Brittas, the MP from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), asked the Ministry of External Affairs in the current parliament session the following:
(a) The status of the actions taken by the Government on the reports suggesting the utilisation of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds to increase voter turnout in Indian elections and details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has received from the US the details of expenditures on all USAID projects in India over the last three years, sought through the US Embassy;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) if not, actions taken thereon; and
(e) The quantum of USAID funding to India in the last three years, year-wise, state-wise, and beneficiary-wise, including NGOs and individuals?
