The Bharatiya Janata Party has intensified its criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging his involvement with foreign agencies to destabilize India’s democratic processes. This development follows remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump concerning U.S. Agency for International Development funding in India.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia expressed deep concern over Gandhi’s purported actions, stating, “It is worrisome that the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, who has taken oath under the constitution of India to preserve the integrity and sovereignty of our country, is indulging in anti-India activities and acting as a stimulus for anti-India forces to interfere in the pure electoral process of our country.” Bhatia further alleged that Gandhi is seeking foreign support to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The controversy escalated after Trump questioned the allocation of $21 million by USAID for voter turnout efforts in India. During an event at Mar-a-Lago, Trump remarked, “Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are 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. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout?”
In response, BJP’s IT cell head, Amit Malviya, suggested that Trump’s comments validate Modi’s previous warnings about foreign interference in India’s elections. Malviya stated, “Prime Minister Modi had warned of foreign influence, not once, but on multiple occasions during the 2024 election campaigns. Now, former U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that there was indeed an attempt to influence the Indian election and install someone other than Prime Minister Modi.”
The BJP has also released a 2023 video of Rahul Gandhi allegedly discussing Western intervention in India, aiming to substantiate claims of his collaboration with external entities. This move is part of a broader strategy to portray Gandhi as a “tool for foreign agencies” working against India’s national interests.
Conversely, the Congress party has dismissed these allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera criticized the BJP’s stance, arguing that the ruling party is attempting to divert attention from pressing domestic issues by fabricating stories of foreign conspiracies.
Political analysts observe that this exchange reflects the escalating tensions between India’s primary political parties as they gear up for forthcoming elections. The BJP’s focus on national security and sovereignty appears to be a central theme in its campaign strategy, while the Congress emphasizes governance and economic challenges.
The discourse surrounding foreign involvement in India’s electoral process has ignited a broader debate about the influence of international organizations and governments in domestic affairs. While the BJP asserts that such interference undermines India’s sovereignty, critics argue that the ruling party is leveraging these claims to stifle dissent and consolidate power.
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