Thu Feb 20 16:45:25 UTC 2025: ## Congress Demands White Paper on USAID Funding in India Amidst US Controversy
**NEW DELHI, February 20, 2025** – The Indian National Congress party is demanding a government white paper detailing the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) funding of Indian government and non-governmental organizations over the past decades. This demand follows a recent controversy sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that USAID spent $21 million on boosting voter turnout in India.
Trump’s statement, which implied foreign interference in Indian elections, has been met with swift rejection from Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh, who called the claims “nonsensical.” However, Ramesh urged the Indian government to proactively address concerns by publishing a transparent account of USAID’s funding activities in India.
The controversy comes as the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, has effectively shut down USAID operations globally, citing concerns about wasteful spending. A list of cancelled projects released by DOGE included the aforementioned $21 million allocation for voter turnout in India. The ongoing situation has heightened scrutiny of USAID’s activities and its impact on Indian political processes.
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