The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following comments made by former US President Donald Trump, who suggested that American financial aid may have been used to meddle in India’s elections. Trump alleged that $21 million provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was intended to influence voter turnout in India with the objective of favoring a particular political outcome.

BJP leader Amit Malviya seized on Trump’s remarks, asserting that they validate long-standing concerns about external interference in India’s democratic processes. Malviya accused Rahul Gandhi of aligning himself with international groups hostile to India’s interests. He recalled Gandhi’s visit to London in 2023, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, during which the Congress leader purportedly solicited the intervention of Western nations in India’s domestic affairs.

Malviya shared a video clip from Gandhi’s London appearance, where the Congress leader expressed concerns about the erosion of democratic principles in India. In the footage, Gandhi is heard suggesting that the state of democracy in India is not merely a domestic issue but part of a broader global struggle. “The surprising thing is that the so-called defenders of democracy, which are the United States and European countries, seem to be oblivious that a huge chunk of democratic model has come undone, which is a real problem...” Gandhi said.

The BJP leader argued that Gandhi’s statements and conduct expose him as a conduit for foreign interests seeking to destabilize India’s political landscape. Malviya stressed that Trump’s comments corroborate the ruling party’s previous allegations that Gandhi was tarnishing India’s image abroad and advocating for external interference.

Meanwhile, the Congress party dismissed Trump’s claims as baseless and urged the Indian government to provide clarity on the matter. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called for the release of a comprehensive white paper detailing USAID’s contributions to both government and non-government entities in India over the years. “While Trump’s remarks are typically absurd, the Indian government must offer transparency by publishing a white paper outlining USAID’s financial involvement in India,” Ramesh said.

Trump made his controversial remarks during an address at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Priority Summit in Miami, hosted by Saudi Arabian authorities. He questioned the rationale behind the US allocating $21 million to promote voter participation in India, implying that the funds were intended to sway electoral outcomes.

The ongoing war of words underscores the deepening rivalry between the BJP and Congress as the political environment heats up in the wake of the 2024 general elections. With accusations of foreign interference adding a new dimension to their feud, the demand for greater transparency regarding foreign aid has grown louder, placing the Modi government under pressure to address public concerns.