They have lot of money: Donald Trump on scrapping $21 million ‘voter turnout’ fund to India
New York/Florida (PTI): President Donald Trump questioned the purpose of providing USD 21 million to India for “voter turnout” as he reiterated that the US "can hardly get in there" because of high Indian tariffs.
Trump also said "India is one of the highest taxing countries in the world".
He made these remarks after Elon Musk-led DOGE’s (Department of Government Efficiency) disclosed that USAID contributed USD 21 million to Election Commission for boosting voter turnout.
On February 16, The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire SpaceX CEO Musk, listed items on which the “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent” and the list included “USD 21M for voter turnout in India.”
DOGE noted that all of the items have been cancelled.
The list also included USD 29 million to "strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh”, USD 20 million for "fiscal federalism" and USD 19 million for "biodiversity conversation" in Nepal as well as USD 47 million for "improving learning outcomes in Asia”.
While signing executive orders on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said,"...And USD 21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we giving USD 21 million to India? They got a lot of money there. One of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us. We can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high.”
On Tuesday, he signed executive orders, including a memorandum requiring 'radical transparency regarding wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars by the federal government.'
Trump said he has a "lot of respect for India. I have a lot of respect for the Prime Minister,” and noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the White House last week.
“But we're giving USD 21 million for voter turnout. It's voter turnout in India. What about like voter turnout here?”
Hours before Prime Minister Modi had a bilateral meeting with Trump in the White House on February 13, the US President had announced reciprocal tariffs.
Under the plan, the Trump administration “will work strenuously to counter non-reciprocal trading arrangements with trading partners by determining the equivalent of a reciprocal tariff with respect to each foreign trading partner.”
During a joint press conference with Modi, Trump, responding to a question on reciprocal tariffs on India, had said "India has been, to us, just about the highest tariffed nation anywhere in the world. They’ve been very strong on tariffs, and I don't blame them, necessarily, but it's a different way of doing business. It's very hard to sell into India because they have trade barriers, very strong tariffs.
The DOGE has been put in charge of overseeing workforce reduction across the government, and as part of that, Musk announced that he would shut down USAID, which is responsible for humanitarian efforts around the globe.
According to USAID officials on February 7, all USAID humanitarian work worldwide had been stopped, reported ABC News.
The agency's website was shut down before Musk's announcement. Later, a Trump-nominated judge announced a temporary restraining order that prevents the president and DOGE from placing 2,200 employees on administrative leave.
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Karnataka Assembly passes Bill to regulate hoardings, levy advertisement fee
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Monday passed an amendment Bill aimed at regulating outdoor advertisements and enabling municipal bodies to levy and collect fees on hoardings and billboards across the state.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly adopted the Karnataka Municipalities and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after it was moved by Urban Development and Town Planning Minister B S Suresha.
The legislation empowers municipal councils and corporations to levy an advertisement fee on any person who erects, exhibits, fixes or displays an advertisement on land, buildings, walls, hoardings or other structures within municipal limits. The fee will be determined by local bodies through a resolution, subject to minimum and maximum rates prescribed by the state government.
However, the Bill provides exemptions for advertisements related to public meetings of municipalities or corporations, elections to legislative bodies and candidature in such elections.
It also mandates the display of advertisements in any municipal area by obtaining written permission from the concerned municipal council or corporation commissioner after payment of the prescribed fee. Permission will not be granted if the advertisement violates municipal by-laws or if the applicable fee has not been paid.
The amendment further authorises municipal authorities to remove or demolish unauthorised advertisements erected in violation of the provisions. Officials may issue a notice directing the owner or occupier of the land or structure to remove such advertisements, failing which authorities can enter the premises and remove them.
According to the provisions, unauthorised advertisements will attract penalties and fines. Those who delay payment of advertisement fees or penalties will also be liable to pay interest at 18 per cent per annum from the date the payment becomes due until it is cleared.
Authorities may recover dues in a manner, similar to the recovery of property tax, including seizure and sale of advertisement materials if necessary.
The Bill also validates previous levies and collections of taxes, cess or fees by municipalities and corporations, stating that such actions shall be deemed lawful notwithstanding any court judgment, decree or order to the contrary.
Replying to members during the discussion, Minister Suresha said the legislation aims to curb unauthorised hoardings and ensure revenue flows to local bodies.
“Those who have put up boards unauthorisedly are not paying even one rupee in tax. We will remove such boards and take action against them. We will also bring them under the tender process so that the government gets revenue,” he said.
The minister explained that advertisements placed on different types of properties would be treated accordingly.
“Apart from that, there are other categories. Some boards are on government land, some are on private land, and some are on people’s own property. For all these there is tax,” he said.
While authorities cannot forcibly remove boards placed on a person’s own property, they would still be required to pay a prescribed corporation tax, he added.
Suresha also warned of strict action against unauthorised advertisements on government land.
“If someone has placed a private advertisement on government land, the government or corporation will fix the fee. We will call for tenders, and whoever wins the tender must pay the amount fixed by us,” he said.
The minister said the move would help local bodies generate substantial revenue.
“Altogether, there is revenue worth hundreds of crores from this, and our intention is that it should go to local bodies,” he said.
