Synopsis
The Congress party has accused the BJP and US President Trump of deceiving the public regarding USAID funding to India, demanding a white paper detailing foreign financial contributions to Indian parties and NGOs.Key Takeaways
- Congress accuses BJP and Trump of misrepresenting USAID funding.
- Demands a white paper on all foreign financial contributions.
- Questions PM Modi's awareness of funding directed to Bangladesh.
- Rejects BJP claims about an ECI-IFES agreement.
- Calls for accountability and transparency in foreign funding.
New Delhi, Feb 22 (NationPress) The Congress party has escalated its critique against the BJP and US President Donald Trump, charging both with openly misrepresenting facts regarding USAID funding to India. The party has insisted on the publication of a thorough white paper that outlines all financial contributions received by political parties, individuals, NGOs, and organizations from global developmental bodies, aid frameworks, and multilateral organizations.
The Congress stressed that this white paper should extend beyond just USAID funding, incorporating financial support from all foreign entities operating under Indian law.
In a pointed attack directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress urged him to respond to allegations made by President Trump, who claimed that the US was set to offer $21 million to India to enhance voter participation. The Congress party argued that PM Modi should confront Trump head-on and dispute the unfounded assertions made by the US President.
"The RSS-BJP and their entire ecosystem are making outrageous allegations to strengthen their concocted narrative against credible civil society members, NGOs, and political parties. These individuals must not only be publicly identified and criticized but also subjected to legal repercussions for disseminating falsehoods and misleading the nation," stated Pawan Khera, Chairman of Media & Publicity (Communications Department), AICC during a press conference on Saturday.
A report released by a prominent Indian daily on Friday clarified that the $21 million in question was not intended for India but was actually designated for Bangladesh.
The Congress questioned the Modi government's apparent lack of awareness regarding this incident in a neighboring nation, asking, "If the funds were allocated to Bangladesh, how can the Modi government remain oblivious to such crucial financial transactions in the region? Does this not raise significant questions about the government’s capability in handling its neighborhood policy?"
The party also rejected the BJP’s assertions concerning a 2012 agreement between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) -- a participant in the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) -- as misleading.
"The IFES was employed by the ECI to create a curriculum on election management, not to sway elections in India," Khera asserted. "The educational material produced by IFES was utilized not for domestic elections but to train electoral officials from around the globe. The Election Commission itself emphasizes on its website that it has trained 69,362 election officials from 109 countries through this initiative."
The Congress party's call for transparency and accountability concerning USAID funding in India has intensified the ongoing political conflict between Congress and the BJP.
