Congress Targets Centre Over USAID Funding Claims
NEW DELHI: The Congress party has recently pointed to a report from the Union finance ministry to challenge the Central government’s claims regarding funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X to highlight discrepancies in the government’s statements.
Key Allegations and Government Response
Ramesh accused the government of deception, stating that the seven projects listed in the finance ministry report have no correlation with “voter turnout”. He emphasized, “None other than the Union finance ministry has thoroughly exposed the lies of the PM and his jhoot brigade, including his dapper External Affairs Minister.” According to Ramesh, USAID is currently collaborating on seven projects with a combined budget of approximately $750 million, none of which are related to voter turnout.
Background of the Controversy
The political landscape has been heated following claims from the Elon Musk-led DOGE, which alleged the cancellation of a $21 million grant aimed at boosting voter turnout in India. Former US President Donald Trump has echoed these claims, labeling it a “kickback scheme”. In response, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern over the information released, stating that it is under investigation.
Details from the Finance Ministry Report
The finance ministry’s report outlines that the funding, totaling $97 million for the fiscal year 2023-24, supports projects in diverse sectors such as agriculture, water and sanitation, renewable energy, and disaster management. Historically, US bilateral development assistance has been significant, amounting to $17 billion for 555 projects since 1951.
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