'Deeply Troubling, Agencies Looking Into It': MEA On $21 Million USAID Funding For India

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the relevant departments and authorities are looking into the information put out by the US administration regarding certain US activities and funding.

File photo of Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Source : PTI

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that the revelations about USAID funding for certain activities in the country are deeply troubling and have led to concerns about foreign interference in its internal affairs.

Speaking during a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the relevant departments and authorities are looking into the information put out by the US administration regarding certain US activities and funding.

"We have seen information that has been put out by the US administration regarding certain USA activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India's internal affairs. Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter," Randhir Jaiswal said. 

#WATCH | "We have seen information that has been put out by the US administration regarding certain USA activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India's internal affairs. Relevant departments and… pic.twitter.com/2WHRex7auG

— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2025

"It would be premature to make a public comment at this stage, so relevant authorities are looking into, and hopefully we can come up with an update on that subsequently," he added. 

US President Donald Trump, while addressing an event in Miami on Thursday, questioned the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) funding of USD 21 million for voter turnout in India and wondered whether it was trying to get someone else elected. Trump's remarks have led to concerns about foreign interference in India's internal affairs. 

On February 16, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, listed items on which the US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent and the list included USD 21M for voter turnout in India. 

DOGE noted that all of the items have been cancelled. The list also included USD 29 million to strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh”, USD 20 million for fiscal federalism and USD 19 million for biodiversity conversation in Nepal as well as USD 47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia”.