Mon Feb 10 11:05:33 UTC 2025: ## BJP MP Accuses USAID-Funded Groups of Anti-India Activities
**New Delhi, February 10, 2025** – A heated exchange erupted in the Lok Sabha today during Zero Hour, sparked by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s allegations against organizations funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Dubey claimed these groups are fomenting unrest in India, citing their alleged involvement in protests against the Agniveer recruitment scheme, support for a caste census, and links to Naxalite activities. He further asserted that these organizations are connected to the Congress party.
Several Congress members strongly protested Dubey’s remarks, attempting to raise points of order, but were overruled by presiding officer Sandhya Ray. The Congress members later met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to register their objections to what they termed unsubstantiated accusations.
Beyond the USAID controversy, other members raised diverse issues, including demands for improved railway connectivity in Odisha, inclusion of the Surjapuri community in the OBC list, reinstatement of a pension scheme for senior artists, free first-class travel for freedom fighters on Vande Bharat trains, and the erection of a Chhatrapati Shivaji statue. The varied concerns highlighted a wide range of pressing issues facing different parts of the country.
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