Fri Feb 21 09:16:00 UTC 2025: ## BJP, Congress Clash Over USAID Funding Following Trump’s Claim
**New Delhi, India** – A political firestorm has erupted in India following former US President Donald Trump’s claim that President Joe Biden approved a $21 million USAID grant aimed at influencing Indian elections. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleges the funds, disbursed under the Biden administration, were used to sway the recent Lok Sabha elections. The opposition Indian National Congress (INC) has countered by demanding a government white paper detailing USAID’s support for Indian institutions over the past few decades.
The controversy has drawn attention to Veena Reddy, the former USAID Mission Director for India and Bhutan. Ms. Reddy, the first Indian-American to hold this position, oversaw a significant increase in USAID funding to India during her tenure (2021-2024), peaking at $228 million in 2022 before declining to $151.8 million in 2024. She departed her post in July 2024, shortly after the election results were announced.
Ms. Reddy, a highly accomplished lawyer with degrees from Columbia University and the University of Chicago, has a long career in the US foreign service. Prior to her India posting, she served in various capacities in Cambodia, Haiti, Pakistan, Central Asia, and Central America, leading programs focused on areas such as food security, environmental protection, health, education, and governance.
The BJP’s accusations and the Congress’s demand for transparency have intensified the political debate, with both sides trading accusations and highlighting the significance of USAID’s role in India. The matter is likely to remain a point of contention in the coming weeks.
First Piper 