Fri Feb 21 04:53:22 UTC 2025: ## Elon Musk’s Agency Uncovers Alleged US Interference in Indian Elections
**New Delhi** – A bombshell report from Elon Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has revealed a potential pattern of significant US funding funneled into Indian elections, raising serious concerns about foreign interference. The report alleges that USAID, the US Agency for International Development, allocated millions of dollars to “voter turnout” initiatives targeting marginalized communities in India, particularly during the 2014 and 2019 general elections.
DOGE’s findings indicate that USAID’s spending, channeled through organizations like the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), spiked dramatically during election periods. In 2014, $21 million (approximately ₹182 crore at current exchange rates) was reportedly disbursed, dropping sharply after the election. A similar pattern allegedly emerged in 2019. Furthermore, some funds were reportedly blocked by Indian agencies for violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
US President Donald Trump is quoted as stating that the USAID spending was not aimed at promoting democracy but at restricting it, questioning the need for such significant investment in Indian voter turnout.
The report highlights a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Election Commission and IFES, signed in 2012. While former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi denies receiving USAID funds, the report points out that funding flowed through various NGOs, focusing on increasing voter participation among marginalized communities.
The report also raises questions about a USAID program aimed at alleviating loneliness among migrant garment workers, noting the lack of transparency surrounding its beneficiaries and objectives.
Furthermore, the report notes the dual funding of IFES’s India operations by USAID and major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, creating potential conflicts of interest. The report also links IFES’s advocacy for caste-based voter categorization to similar statements made by Indian opposition leaders, culminating in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s controversial slogan. The report also points to the deletion of the X account of IFES’s India and Nepal director following the revelations.
The timing and targeting of the USAID funding, coupled with the involvement of various organizations and the subsequent actions of some key individuals, have prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the extent of foreign influence in Indian elections. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for greater transparency and accountability from all parties involved.
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