NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Thursday after former US President Donald Trump claimed that India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections were “influenced” by external forces attempting to “get someone else elected.”
Trump’s remarks came hours after he criticized the Biden administration’s decision to allocate $21 million towards “voter turnout efforts” in India. Following this, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya shared multiple clips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had warned about foreign influence during the election campaign.
During his rallies in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi had repeatedly alleged that global forces were working against him. Speaking at a rally in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur in April, he had stated:
“Influential people around the world have united to remove Modi, but with the blessings of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power) and ‘Matr Shakti’ (maternal power), I continue to work despite challenges.”
In another rally in Chhattisgarh’s Sarguja, he had said:
“Congress and some influential global forces lose their cool when India rises in power because it disrupts their agenda. A self-reliant India threatens their dominance. That’s why they want a weak Congress-led government, riddled with corruption and internal conflicts. The history of Congress shows that it can sacrifice national interests for power.”
In a television interview, PM Modi had also alleged external meddling, stating:
“The entire world is trying to influence India’s election, not just by expressing opinions but by actively intervening. However, they will not succeed.”
Accusing Rahul Gandhi of seeking foreign intervention in India’s affairs, the BJP shared a clip from his 2023 visit to London. The party alleged:
“Rahul Gandhi has aligned himself with global networks working to undermine India’s strategic and geopolitical interests, acting as a tool for foreign agencies.”
Trump, reiterating his concerns at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami, questioned the US government’s rationale for funding voter turnout in India.
“Why did we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? It seems like they were trying to get somebody else elected,” he remarked.
Drawing a comparison, he added:
“When Russia allegedly spent just $2,000 on internet ads in the US, it became a huge controversy. But here, we are talking about $21 million—this is a major issue.”
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad also condemned Congress, accusing it of undermining India’s democracy.
“When people don’t vote for them, Congress resorts to conspiracies and foreign funding to influence India’s elections. This blatant attempt at foreign interference is shameful, and we strongly condemn it,” he said.
On Wednesday, Trump further criticized the US aid to India, calling it unnecessary since “New Delhi is already one of the highest-taxing countries in the world.”
This controversy gained traction after Elon Musk-led DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) revealed that USAID had allegedly contributed $21 million to the Election Commission of India to boost voter turnout.
