Congress Slams Modi Government Over USAID Links
Pawan Khera Questions BJP’s Hypocrisy on Foreign Funding
The Congress party today held a press conference where senior leader Pawan Khera launched a scathing attack on the BJP government over its repeated engagements with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Khera accused the ruling party of double standards, pointing out how various BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Piyush Goyal, Devendra Fadnavis, and Smriti Irani, have interacted with USAID while simultaneously targeting opposition parties over foreign funding.
Key Points from Pawan Khera’s Attack on BJP
- Piyush Goyal’s USAID Funds (2024): Khera highlighted that in 2024, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal accepted financial support from USAID for achieving “zero carbon emissions” by 2030. He questioned why BJP never discusses its own foreign fund inflows.
- Devendra Fadnavis’ Meeting (2022): Khera cited Fadnavis’ meeting on 10 November 2022 with USAID officials to discuss “mutual cooperation,” questioning why BJP remains silent on such interactions while attacking opposition leaders for foreign engagements.
- Demonetization and USAID (2016): The Congress leader raised a serious allegation—before demonetization in 2016, Modi had agreements with USAID on promoting a cashless economy. Khera asked, “Did demonetization happen at America’s behest?”
- $100 Million from USAID During COVID: Khera revealed that the Modi government accepted $100 million from USAID during the COVID-19 crisis. If foreign funding is a concern, why does the BJP government accept such funds without scrutiny?
Congress’ Counter to BJP’s Foreign Funding Allegations
Pawan Khera emphasized that Congress is not against USAID or any funding agency. However, he stated that the laws governing foreign funding apply to all, including BJP-affiliated NGOs. He accused the BJP of deliberately targeting Congress while ignoring its own history of receiving foreign aid.
- Smriti Irani’s USAID Role: Khera reminded that BJP leader Smriti Irani was a USAID brand ambassador. He sarcastically asked, “When she performed on the streets carrying gas cylinders, was USAID behind the performance?”
- Anna Hazare’s Movement & RSS Connection: The Congress spokesperson also pointed out that during the 2011 anti-corruption movement, which led to the fall of the UPA government, Hazare later went to America and did a roadshow. He alleged that funds from the Ford Foundation, which had links to RSS circles, supported parts of the movement.
Modi’s One-Sided Relationship with Trump
Khera also took a dig at Modi’s close ties with former US President Donald Trump, saying that India’s global reputation suffered due to Modi’s one-sided alignment with Trump’s administration. He argued that BJP’s foreign policy has been inconsistent, favoring personal optics over national interests.
Conclusion
Pawan Khera’s attack highlights the BJP’s hypocrisy on foreign funding and foreign collaborations. Congress has demanded that the Modi government come clean on its ties with USAID and stop selectively targeting opposition parties.
