Amit Malviya claims UPA enabled infiltration of institutions, cites US-funded voter turnout programme and links to George Soros.
New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday alleged that a now-cancelled US-funded programme aimed at boosting voter turnout in India is evidence of the previous Congress-led UPA government's efforts to infiltrate Indian institutions with forces opposed to the country's interests.
The US Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk has announced a series of expenditure cuts, including $ 21 million allocated for “voter turnout in India.”
The department said, “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all (of) which have been cancelled...”
The list included $486 million in grants to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening including $21 million for “voter turnout in India” and $22 million for “inclusive and participatory political process” in Moldova. No further details on the funding were given in the post.
BJP IT department head Amit Malviya took to X to assert, "It is becoming increasingly evident that the Congress-led UPA systematically enabled the infiltration of India's institutions by forces opposed to the nation's interests — those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity." He further accused billionaire US-based investor George Soros, a "known associate" of the Congress and the Gandhis, of casting a shadow over India's electoral process.
Malviya pointed to a 2012 memorandum of understanding between the Election Commission and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems — an organisation linked to Soros' Open Society Foundation and primarily funded by USAID — as evidence of external interference. "Those questioning the 'transparent and inclusive' process of appointing India's Election Commissioner had no hesitation in handing over the entire Election Commission of India to foreign operators," he said.
He also cited actions by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk under a US administration initiative, which cancelled several programmes costing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Among these was a $486 million allocation to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, including $21 million earmarked for boosting voter turnout in India.
"$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India's electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!" Malviya concluded.
