The US DOGE, led by Elon Musk, terminated a $21 million grant for voter turnout in India, prompting BJP leaders to accuse the Congress party of enabling external interference in elections. The canceled grant, meant for the CEPPS, has elicited strong reactions highlighting concerns over foreign involvement in India’s democratic processes.
The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of a $21 million grant designated for the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) aimed at boosting voter turnout in India. The cancellation has raised concerns among BJP members Amit Malviya and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who accused the Opposition Congress of facilitating external interference in India’s electoral process.
On DOGE’s official X platform, Musk noted, “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled.” Among the retracted funds were $486 million allotted for CEPPS, which included financial support for an inclusive political process in Moldova and the aforementioned voter turnout initiative in India.
The announcement did not specify which Indian entity was intended to receive the grant, and both the CEPPS and the USAID websites were reported as inaccessible. Under President Donald Trump, DOGE has been actively retracting funding and closing down previous USAID programs.
In response, Malviya remarked on X, “…$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!” Meanwhile, Chandrasekhar referred to the cancellation as a “smoking gun of interference” in democracies, suggesting that many protests in India may have had external funding backing them.
CEPPS, a nonprofit consortium that includes organizations like the National Democratic Institute, was established in 1995 with a mission to support electoral processes globally. Their work is financed through the USAID Global Elections and Political Transitions Program, indicating robust international involvement in electoral processes.
The cancellation of the $21 million grant by DOGE has sparked significant political debate in India, particularly among BJP officials who assert it poses threats to the country’s electoral integrity. There’s a contention regarding foreign influence within India’s political system and the implications of past agreements between Indian electoral bodies and international organizations. This highlights ongoing sensitivities surrounding electoral funding and governance, leading to calls for further investigation into external influences on Indian democracy.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
