USAID funding row: Cong says PM, EAM must answer why govt silent despite Trump 'insulting' India
New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI): Amid the USAID funding row, the Congress on Sunday accused the BJP of indulging in "anti-national work" by spreading "fake news from America" and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also have to answer as to why the government is silent when US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are "insulting" India repeatedly.
The BJP has rejected all such allegations of the Congress and called Rahul Gandhi a "traitor", accusing him of colluding with foreign forces in his bid to weaken India.
Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh said, "BJP is a procession of liars and illiterates.The news about USD 21 million, on which the BJP and their bootlickers were jumping on, turned out to be fake.The USD 21 million in 2022 was not for 'voter turnout' in India, but for Bangladesh."
"Elon Musk made a fake claim, Trump got confused between Dhaka and Delhi, Amit Malviya spread the lie further, then the rest of BJP's bootlickers seized on it," he charged.
Ever since the Trump administration's DOGE said on February 16 that USAID has cancelled the USD 21 million funding for "voting in India", the BJP has been making fabricated allegations against the Congress, Ramesh said in his post in Hindi on X.
"But now it is coming to light that this entire news is fake. When the money has not even reached India, then what would be the cancellation?" he said.
The controversy is actually about two USAID grants on DOGE's list that were given through the Washington-based Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), the Congress leader said.
The CEPPS was supposed to receive a total of USD 486 million from USAID, he said, adding that according to DOGE, the funds included USD 22 million for Moldova and USD 21 million for "voter turnout in India", he said.
"The first fund USAID gave to CEPPS for Moldova was in 2016 with the ID AID117LA1600001. But the USAID USD 21 million grant for India marked by DOGE is completely fake. Because it was for Bangladesh, not India," he claimed.
And the reality is that of the USD 21 million earmarked for Bangladesh, USD 13.4 million has already been disbursed before the January 2024 elections, Ramesh said.
"Every federal grant specifies the country in which it is to be used. According to US federal spending, there have been no USAID-funded CEPPS projects in India since 2008. The only ongoing USD 21 million USAID grant to CEPPS, ID 72038822LA00001, was approved in July 2022 for Bangladesh's 'Amar Vote Amar' (My Vote Is Mine)," he pointed out.
"In November 2022, the purpose of the grant was changed to 'USAID's Nagorik Programme'. A USAID official in Dhaka also confirmed this on social media during his US visit in December 2024: 'I manage the USD 21 million CEPPS/Nagorik project funded by USAID'," Ramesh said.
"Now the BJP should just answer this: Why did the BJP spread fake news about India's democracy? Why did the BJP did anti-national work by spreading fake news from America? If BJP's accusing India's opposition party over fake news from America is not treason, then what is it?" he said.
Ramesh said "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also have to answer, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are insulting India again and again, and why is our government silent on this?"
The Congress leader said "Is it the case that the country's self-respect has been compromised in the process of begging for mercy for Adani?"
Trump for the fourth time in recent days has claimed that the Biden administration allocated USD 21 million funding to India for voter turnout , evoking a sharp response from the Congress which urged Prime Minister Modi to talk to his friend and strongly refute the allegation.
The opposition party has demanded a white paper on the funds received in India from developmental agencies, aid mechanisms and multilateral forums.
It also sought legal action against the RSS-BJP and their ecosystem for making wild allegations against credible civil society members, NGOs and political parties.
In Washington, speaking at a 'Governors Working Session,' Trump had said: Twenty-one million dollars going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We're giving 21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too.
A video clipping from the event was posted on social media by the White House on Friday.
Trump also said that money went to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh to a firm that nobody ever heard of.
In New Delhi, reacting to Trump's remarks, the Congress on Saturday demanded a comprehensive white paper on the funds that political parties, individuals, NGOs, organisations received from developmental agencies, aid mechanisms and multilateral forums.
The white paper should not only focus on USAID funding, but all such agencies which fund both governments, individuals and all other entities under Indian law, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said on Saturday.
Hitting back at Khera, BJP leader Ajay Alok said the Congress people have probably lost their mind.
झूठों और अपनपढ़ों की बारात है BJP
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 23, 2025
▪️जिस 21 मिलियन डॉलर पर भाजपाई और चरणचुंबक उछल रहे थे, वो खबर तो फेक निकली
▪️2022 में 21 मिलियन डॉलर भारत में 'वोटर टर्नआउट' के लिए नहीं, बांग्लादेश के लिए थे
▪️एलोन मस्क ने फ़र्ज़ी दावा किया, ट्रम्प ढाका और दिल्ली में कंफ्यूज हुए, अमित…
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengal police examining CCTV footage, multiple teams set up to trace killers of Suvendu's aide
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Police are examining CCTV footage and have formed multiple teams to trace the men involved in the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath, a senior officer said on Thursday.
Police are also probing whether contract killers were engaged in the murder of Rath, who was shot dead in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night.
A forensic team visited the spot on Thursday morning and collected samples, while officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) also joined the probe, he said.
"Going by the circumstantial evidence, it seems that the murder was pre-planned. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the crime spot and nearby areas, while multiple police teams have been formed to trace the assailants," the officer said.
Police, however, are yet to make any arrests in connection with the crime.
According to preliminary information, Rath's car was intercepted near Doharia between Doltala and Madhyamgram Chowmatha around 10.15 pm on Wednesday by motorcycle-borne men who opened fire before fleeing.
"A detailed investigation has begun. We are pursuing several leads," the officer said.
Rath, 42, was returning to his residence in Madhyamgram from Kolkata when the incident occurred, he said. The deceased is survived by his son and wife.
The vehicle was being driven by Buddhadeb Bera, who also sustained bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata, another officer said.
Bera, who underwent a couple of surgeries, remained "very critical", sources in the hospital said.
Preliminary findings suggested that the assailants intercepted Rath's vehicle in a coordinated manner before firing multiple rounds from close range, the officer said.
Investigators claimed the vehicle carrying Rath was first blocked near Doharia junction by a small four-wheeler, after which a motorcycle rider approached Rath's car and started firing from close range.
"Rath’s car was intercepted around 100 metres from the housing complex where he lived. The small car came in front of his vehicle, slowing down its pace, and it seems that was when the killers shot him," the officer said.
The occupants of the small four-wheeler later abandoned the vehicle and escaped on motorcycles, police said.
Police suspected that the killers fled on two motorcycles in two directions.
"One probably took the main road towards Jessore Road, while the other took a narrow street on the left leading to Rajarhat," the officer said.
Another police officer said CCTV footage showed the car travelling towards Madhyamgram before the attack.
Investigators said they are taking help from both Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate to check CCTV footage installed under their respective jurisdictions and study the movement of the killers.
"The number plate attached to the small car left by the assailants was found to be fake. It belongs to a person based in Siliguri, who works in a tea estate. The chassis number and engine number of the small car have been erased. It indicates that they had planned the murder," he said.
The person, in Siliguri, is being interrogated by Mothabari police, he added.
"He is claiming to have uploaded a photograph of his vehicle on an online platform with the intention of selling it. We are verifying his claims and rechecking them," the officer said.
"We have recovered empty cartridges and live ammunition from the crime spot. At this stage, the motive behind the attack is not clear," the DGP said.
Police suspect the use of sophisticated firearms during the attack.
On Thursday, police recovered a bullet shell from the streets approaching Rath's residence, the sleuth said.
According to preliminary forensic inputs, the assailants might have used Glock 47X pistols, he said.
"A weapon of this nature is generally not used by ordinary criminals. We are examining whether professional shooters were involved," a senior West Bengal Police officer said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, one of the locals claimed to have seen three people on a bike "waiting" on the streets last night.
He also said that they had little clue about Rath's association with Adhikari.
"We did not know much about Rath. Whether he was an aide of Adhikari was not known to us. He used to return home in the same car with a West Bengal Assembly sticker at the same time everyday," the local resident claimed.
