USAID Funding Controversy: BJP and Congress Engage in War of Words Over Voter Turnout Grant

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The controversy surrounding the USAID funding for voter turnout has sparked a heated debate between the BJP and the Congress, with both parties engaging in a war of words over the issue. A recent report claimed that the $21 million grant was actually allocated for a project in Bangladesh, and not India, as previously suggested. This revelation has led to a fresh face-off between the two parties, with the BJP dismissing the report as fake and the Congress accusing the BJP of jumping to conclusions without verifying the facts.

The report, which was published in the Indian Express, stated that the USAID grant was sanctioned in 2022 for a project called "Amar Vote Amar" (My Vote is Mine) in Bangladesh, and not for any election-related project in India. The Congress has latched on to this report to accuse the BJP of making baseless allegations against the opposition party, with Congress leader Pawan Khera calling the BJP "anti-national" for pointing fingers at the opposition without verifying the facts. Khera also pointed out that the BJP has been in the opposition for the longest period and has taken "direct help from external forces" to destabilize Congress governments, highlighting the hypocrisy of the BJP's stance.

The BJP, on the other hand, has dismissed the report as misleading, with BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya asserting that the report sidestepped the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2012 between the Election Commission and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Malviya claimed that the IFES was linked to the Open Society Foundation of American billionaire George Soros, which is primarily funded by USAID, and that the report remained silent on subsequent funding aimed at interfering in India's election process, which is a matter of national security. The BJP has also accused the Congress of desperation, saying that the party's swift response to the report showed its vulnerability to allegations of external interference.

The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the role of external funding in India's elections, with many questioning the transparency and accountability of such funding. The issue has also highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of foreign funding and its potential impact on India's democratic processes. As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the two parties will respond to the allegations and counter-allegations, and what implications this will have for the upcoming elections. The situation is being closely watched by stakeholders, including voters, politicians, and

• election commission officials
• political analysts
• foreign policy experts

who are all trying to make sense of the complex and evolving situation.

In conclusion, the USAID funding controversy has sparked a heated debate between the BJP and the Congress, with both parties engaging in a war of words over the issue. The report claiming that the grant was allocated for a project in Bangladesh has added a new twist to the controversy, with the Congress accusing the BJP of making baseless allegations and the BJP dismissing the report as misleading. As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the two parties will respond to the allegations and counter-allegations, and what implications this will have for the upcoming elections and the future of Indian politics.

usaid turnout grant bjp congres voter fund accusation external interference