Trump Cancels $21 Million Fund to India : In a significant move, U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled a $21 million fund aimed at improving voter numbers in India. The funding, approved under the leadership of Elon Musk’s Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), was part of a broader international assistance package. Trump raised concerns about the necessity of providing such aid to India, considering the nation’s robust economic growth and high taxation rates. (Trump Cancels $21 Million Fund to India)
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In a statement following the signing of executive orders at Mar-a-Lago, Trump asked, “Why are we giving India $21 million? They have a lot of money. They are one of the highest-taxing countries in the world. Their taxes are so high that we cannot even reach them. I have great respect for India and their Prime Minister, but why are we giving $21 million to improve voter numbers?”
This move is part of a larger budget restructuring effort by the Government Efficiency Department, which has also cut foreign aid to Bangladesh and Nepal. In total, $72.3 million in foreign aid was reduced, including the $21 million grant to India and a $29 million cut for strengthening Bangladesh’s political situation.
Sanjeev Sanyal, an economist and member of India’s Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, criticized the U.S. stance on foreign aid. He questioned the transparency of how the aid was being utilized, particularly the $21 million for India’s voter expansion and the $29 million allocated to strengthen Bangladesh’s political landscape. Sanyal pointed out, “It would be interesting to know who received the $21 million for voter improvement in India and the $29 million to strengthen Bangladesh’s political scenario. I also don’t have any information about the $29 million spent to improve Nepal’s ‘economic federalism.’ USAID is one of the biggest scams in human history.”
The Trump administration’s decision to cut aid has led to debates on its potential impact on U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the context of India. Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi also criticized the claim that the U.S. was funding voter expansion in India. He refuted reports suggesting such financial agreements, stating, “Back in 2012, when I was the Chief Election Commissioner, there were reports about an agreement between the Election Commission of India and U.S. agencies for funding a few million dollars for voter expansion. However, there is no truth in such reports.”
Trump’s decision has sparked significant discussions on the nature and necessity of U.S. foreign aid to economically stable nations like India and its political and diplomatic ramifications.
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