New Delhi says it is looking into ‘deeply troubling’ information about USAid activities in India

NEW DELHI - The Indian authorities are looking into “deeply troubling” information about US governmental activity in the country, New Delhi said on Feb 21, after President Donald Trump suggested that a US government agency had spent money trying to influence Indian elections.

The Indian foreign ministry comment comes two days after Mr Trump cited information released by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which is led by Mr Elon Musk, showing that the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) had spent US$21 million (S$28 million) on “voter turnout” in India.

“We have seen information put out by the US administration regarding certain USAid activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly news briefing when asked about USAid’s activities in India.

Mr Jaiswal said the “relevant department and agencies” were looking into the matter.

USAid did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment. 

On Feb 16, Doge published on X a list of funds that USAid, which Mr Trump has put a freeze on, had disbursed, including US$21 million for voter turnout in India.

“What do we need to spend US$21 million for voter turnout in India for? Wow, US$21 million. I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected,” Mr Trump said at an event in Miami.

His comment and Doge’s disclosures have caused a political storm in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress accusing each other of benefiting from foreign funds.

The Indian Express newspaper reported on Feb 21, citing documents it had accessed, that the US$21 million Mr Trump referred to was disbursed to neighbouring Bangladesh, not India. REUTERS