New Delhi [India], February 21: India on Friday expressed concerns over the United States administration’s comments regarding funding in India, calling the information “deeply troubling” and raising alarms about potential foreign interference in India’s internal affairs.
During a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue, stating that relevant departments and agencies are investigating the matter. He emphasized that it would be premature to make any public comments at this stage. “We have seen information from the US administration about certain US activities and funding. These are deeply troubling and have led to concerns regarding foreign interference in India’s internal affairs. Relevant authorities are looking into this issue,” Jaiswal said.
The remarks follow President Donald Trump’s comments at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami, Florida, on Thursday, where he questioned the allocation of USD 21 million by the US for voter turnout efforts in India. Trump compared this to concerns about foreign interference in US elections, stating, “21 million dollars for voter turnout in India – why do we need to spend 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected.”
Trump also pointed out the apparent contradiction between this spending and the reaction to foreign influence in US elections, referring to the controversy over Russia’s alleged spending on election ads. “When we hear that Russia spent about two thousand dollars in our country, it was a big deal. They took some internet ads for two thousand dollars. This is a total breakthrough,” he said.
Additionally, Trump questioned India’s economic position, remarking on the country’s high tariffs on US goods, stating, “They’re one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us. We can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high.” However, Trump clarified that he holds respect for India and its Prime Minister, even as he questioned the necessity of the funding for voter turnout in a foreign country.
This controversy follows the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announcing the cancellation of a USD 22 million initiative intended for voter turnout in India. On February 16, DOGE, led by Elon Musk, posted a list of cancelled US taxpayer-funded projects, including the mention of USD 21 million earmarked for “voter turnout in India.”