'Govt Looking Into It, Facts Will Come Out': Jaishankar Calls USAID Funding Information From US 'Concerning'
Jaishankar said the information by the Trump administration suggests that though USAID was allowed in India "in good faith, to do good faith activities", "there are activities which are in bad faith".
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that the information put out by the Trump administration is "concerning" and "worrisome" and that the government is looking into it. His remarks came amid a row over $21 million United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding for certain activities in India to boost its voter turnout.
Jaishankar, while speaking at a public event at the DU Literature Festival, said the information by the Trump administration suggests that even though USAID was allowed in India "in good faith, to do good faith activities", "there are activities which are in bad faith". The minister stressed that "facts will come out".
"I think, some information has been put out there by Trump administration people, and obviously that is concerning. It would suggest that there are activities which has a certain objective out here to push a narrative or a view point. As a government, we are looking into it, because such organisations, have an obligation to report. And, my sense is, the facts will come out," Jaishankar said.
He further said: "I read, so and so dealt with USAID...look it's not a question of, did you deal with USAID or not, USAID was allowed...it has been here historically. But, USAID was allowed here in good faith, to do good faith activities. Now, suggestions are being made out of America, that there are activities which are in bad faith."
"So, it surely warrants a look, and if there is something to it, I think the country should know who are the people involved in the bad faith activities," the External Affairs Minister said.
Addressing an event in Miami on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that USAID allocated $21 million to boost the voter turnout in India, and wondered if it was meant to "get someone else elected". He raised the issue for the third consecutive day, saying "twenty-one million dollars going to my friend PM Modi in India for voter turnout".
He called the allocation a "kickback scheme" as he questioned the need for funds for voter turn out in India. "We’ve got enough problems of our own. We want our own turnout. In many cases, when you have no idea what we’re talking about, it means there’s a kickback because no one knows what’s going on there," Trump said.
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'Security Can Be Threatened Without Leaving Your House'
Jaishankar also asserted that "our idea of security actually has to expand in a tech world" as he said that security is not just about armed forces and police ensuring law enforcement but how the thought process are influenced, facts are presented, and narratives are set without one even knowing it.
"And, a lot of that is done through activities of NGOs, of tech, of rankings, you are made to believe your democracy isn't working, it's a very dangerous and Machiavellian...," the external affairs minister said, without naming anyone.
"Your security can be threatened without leaving your house, because the thought processes, the influences, the narratives, your morale, your sense of what is right and wrong is all influenced by your phone, what you read everyday, the pictures you see," Jaishankar said at the interaction moderated by Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister during the DU Literature Festival, hosted at the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC).
MEA on Friday called the revelations about USAID funding "deeply troubling" and said Indian agencies are probing statements made by Trump administration. It said that the information has raised concerns about foreign interference in its internal affairs.
Responding to a query during his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that "relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter".
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