Doge $21 Million Indian Voters Fund: Billionaire Elon Musk-led US Government Efficiency (DOGE) on February 16th aims to increase “Indian voters” It has announced that it has cancelled the money for “taxpayers” in the ”.
The move is part of Doge’s ongoing crackdown on the US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded projects.
Why is DOGE funding in Indian elections controversy?
The decision sparked political debate in India, claiming that the Baltya Janata Party (BJP) had proven “examples of interference” in the Indian election process during the Congress-led UPA rules.
Opposition parliament questioned how the ruling party (Parliament) was obstructing its election outlook by obtaining this so-called “outside interference.”
Economist and Sanjeff Sanial of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Committee Economic Advisory Committee has argued that USAID is “the biggest fraud in human history.”
“Why would US institutions want to provide $21 million for election-related jobs in India? Wouldn’t that be an intervention in the Indian election process? We are the world’s largest democracy. Free and free. A fair election will take place here. Ensure free and fair elections, including the Indian Election Commission,” BJP leader Narin told news agency ANI.
Kohli argued that these similar instances were seen in the past as Congress collaborating with organisations like Cambridge Analytica to create influence in order to interfere with the country’s election process.
External interference in the election process: BJP
Before Kohli, who is in charge of the BJP’s National Information Technology Division, Amit Malviya said that voter turnout in India $21 million is “undouble intervention in India’s election process.” “Who will get it from now on? It’s certainly not the ruling party,” Malviya said.
The BJP leader claimed that in 2012, under the leadership of Sy Quaraishi, ECI signed a memorandum with the International Election System (IFES). USAID.” Quaraishi refused the claim.
“Ironically, those questioning the transparent and comprehensive process of appointing India’s top electoral committee (CEC) – the first process of democracy, previously only the Prime Minister (PM) decided , could not hesitate to hand over the entire ECI to foreign countries. Malviya said, referring to the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi’s comments on the next CEC appointment process.”
The select committee, including the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Rahul Gandhi, meets today on Monday to select the new CEC. Malviya said, “It is increasingly clear that the Congress-led United UPA systematically enabled the invasion of Indian systems through its forces against the interests of the nation, that is, those seeking to weaken India at any opportunity. It’s become.”
The Congress rubbed Marviya’s claim. “Someone told this clown that in 2012, when ECI was said to have received this fund from USAID, the ruling party was Congress. Therefore, his logical control party (Congress) has been told that he has “congress” “External interference” blocked the prospects of their own elections. And the opposition (BJP) won the 2014 election because of Soros/USAID,” party spokesman Pawan Kiera said in the post.
What is the election commission’s stance?
For now, there is nothing more clear than what Doge said with USAID funds to increase voter turnout in India. Agency like USAID usually earns funds every year. In that case, it was US$21 million for a year, or one of the unclear instances for now.
Voters turnout is usually carried out by the Indian Election Commission. However, the voting panel has not yet responded to Doge’s cancellation.
Former CEC SY Quaraishi said that in 2012 there were IFES and MOUs for training, but no funding was involved. “The report in the 2012 ECI’s MOUs on MOUs in 2012, when I was CEC, has been reported to be based on the facts for the funding of certain million dollars by US agencies to increase voter turnout in India. I don’t have an IOTA,” said Quaraishi, who was CEC, in a post on X from July 2010 to June 2012.
“In fact, the MOU has made it clear that in black and white there are no financial and legal obligations of any kind on either side. This provision does not exclude scope for ambiguity, but in two different places It was. The mention of funds related to this MOU is completely false and malicious,” Quaraishi said in multiple X posts.
How much does Doge have $21 million in funding for voter turnout?
The project being questioned in India is one of several around the world and is funded by a consortium for election and strengthening political processes (CEPPS). The organization was founded in 1995 and is funded by USAID.
CEPPS is a nonprofit organization that pools the expertise of three international organizations: the National Institute of Democracy, the International Republican Institute, and the International Election System. It aims to support elections and political transitions worldwide.
Founded in 1995, CEPPS is funded by the Global Election and Political Transition Program at USAID. At the moment, the website does not seem to be accessible. “We can’t find that page,” the website says.
What role does Elon Musk play in this?
Elon Muskhead Dozi, made up of US President Donald Trump, has announced that he has cancelled many programs in the hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars.
On February 16, Tesla’s Chief Mask-led Doge shared a list of cancelled US taxpayer-funded initiatives, referring to the US $21 million allocated for “voting voters in India.” . The X post Doge announced that it will cancel many programs that cost hundreds of millions of dollars taxpayer. The department said, “US taxpayer dollars were planned to spend all (all) that were cancelled on the next item…”
The list included US$486 million grants to the consortium for strengthening elections and political processes, including US$21 million for “voter votes in India.”
Here is a list of programs that have been cancelled by the US government.
– $10 million for “Voluntary Medical Men’s Circumcision in Mozambique.”
-$9.7 million for UC Berkeley to develop a “cohort of Cambodian youth with corporate-led skills.”
– $2.3 million to “strengthen Cambodia’s independent voice.”
– $32 million to the Civil Society Centre for Prague
– $40 million for “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Hub.”
– $14 million for Serbia’s “improvement of public procurement.”
– $486 million for “Election Consortium and Consortium for Enhancement of Political Processes.” Moldova’s “comprehensive and participatory political process” is $22 million, while Indian voters turnout is $21 million.
– $29 million from “Strengthening the Political Landscape in Bangladesh.”
– $20 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal.
– $19 million for Nepal’s “biodiversity conversation.”
– $1.5 million for “voter trust” in Liberia.
– $14 million for Mali’s “social cohesion.”
– $2.5 million for “Inclusive Democracy in South Africa.”
– $47 million to “improve learning outcomes in Asia.”
– $2 million to develop a “sustainable recycling model” to “increase socioeconomic cohesion among marginalized communities in Kosovo, Rome, Ashkari and Egypt.”
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