On Saturday, US President Donald Trump raised concerns once more about USAID’s $21 million “voter turnout” subsidy in India, which his administration has cancelled.
The US President told governors in a video shared by National Desk, “USD 21 million going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We are giving $21 million for voter turnout in India, what about us? I want voter turnout too, Governor….$29 million to strengthen political landscape in Bangladesh went to firm that nobody ever heard of”.
Trump has already said this about the $21 million fund controversy three times in a row.
The Republican leader questioned the fund on Friday, calling it a “kickback scheme” and saying “USD 21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India’s turnout? We have got enough problems. We want our own turnout. I would say in many cases, anytime you have no idea what we’re talking about, that means there’s a kickback because nobody has any idea what’s going on there”.
Trump’s significant indication about suspected meddling in India’s election before Friday’s statement.
Trump had stated in Florida, “21 million dollars in voter turnout – why do we need to spend 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the India Government…Because when we hear that Russia spent about two thousand dollars. This is a total breakthrough”.
India’s reaction to Trump’s statement
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Relevant departments and authorities are looking into the information put out by the American administration regarding certain US activities and funding. We have seen information that has been put out by the US administration regarding certain US activities and funding. They are obviously very deeply troubling”.
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