The U.S. DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has cancelled a $21 million grant for voter turnout in India, drawing criticism from BJP leaders who accuse the Opposition of permitting external interference in elections. The initiative was designed to support a democratic process, but its cancellation has raised concerns about financial influence in India’s electoral integrity. Former ECI Chief Quraishi has denied any financial commitments associated with the previous agreement with IFES.
The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk, recently cancelled a $21 million grant intended for the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) aimed at enhancing voter turnout in India. This cancellation has prompted Indian politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), namely Amit Malviya and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, to express concerns regarding external influence on India’s electoral integrity.
In a post on X, DOGE announced that taxpayer funds initially allocated for several initiatives, including $21 million for voter turnout in India, were now nullified. The post failed to provide specifics on the Indian recipient agency or further information about the cancellation, while CEPPS’s website remained inaccessible. Since President Trump reassumed office in January 2021, DOGE has been reducing financial commitments made by prior administrations and closing USAID-led programs.
BJP’s Amit Malviya remarked on X, “…$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!” Meanwhile, Rajeev Chandrasekhar characterized the situation as a blatant undermining of democracies, suggesting that the protests observed in India had substantial external financial backing. He called for an investigation into the financial connections surrounding USAID funding in India.
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), which is a partner of CEPPS, describes the organization as a consortium of three major entities dedicated to supporting democratic processes globally. Established in 1995 and funded by USAID, CEPPS aims to provide comprehensive democracy programming around the world. A memorandum of understanding with the Election Commission of India (ECI) was signed in 2012 to aid in spreading knowledge of election management practices internationally.
In response to the BJP’s allegations, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi clarified on X that the memorandum signed with IFES did not involve financial commitments. He asserted that the MoU strictly indicated there would be no financial or legal obligations, emphasizing that claims of external funding are unfounded and malicious. The ECI has not issued any statements regarding these recent developments.
The cancellation of a $21 million grant by DOGE for voter turnout in India has sparked allegations from BJP officials of external interference in the country’s electoral process. The DOGE’s decision has led to calls for investigations into foreign funding in domestic protests. Furthermore, former ECI Chief Quraishi has refuted claims of financial obligations related to the signed MoU with IFES, emphasizing the absence of any such mandates.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
