Trump, BJP get egg on their faces; Congress goes to town over $21 million USAID to Bangladesh

As India woke up today to a startling revelation — that the much-debated US$ 21 million of USAID funding for 'voter turnout' in India was actually intended for the political context of Bangladesh — the Congress found the perfect opportunity to go to town with a series of clapbacks at the BJP and prime minister Narendra Modi.

On Friday, 21 February, the Indian Express reported that the funds in question were found to have been directed to Bangladesh and not India, leaving Donald Trump with egg on his face — and also debunking the BJP’s earlier claims that the Congress had received foreign funding to ‘destabilise’ the Modi government.

The ruling party had gone on the offensive, alleging US interference in Indian elections, accusing the Congress of being complicit. However, with the new revelations, the BJP's accusations have fallen flat.

While Donald Trump has to be embarrassed at repeating the wrong information handed to him by his own people — the Elon Musk-led DOGE (indeed, he of the 'X' fame as well!) — the BJP back home now looks silly for repeating, in fact, the (baseless) ‘foreign agenda’ themselves!

Now, the main opposition party has in turn accused the Modi government of compromising national interests and fostering a lopsided relationship with the Trump administration.

Addressing the media in Delhi, Congress’ chairman of media and publicity Pawan Khera, posed some more pointed questions for the Modi government:

“For a week, BJP has been alleging that USAID funnelled $21 million to destabilise the Modi government. If such a transaction truly took place under Modi’s watch — despite all security agencies in place — it is an utter embarrassment for his government.

“When questioned, BJP deflected by claiming the money had entered India back in 2012, during the UPA’s tenure.”

But in that case, he suggested, surely it had gone to the then-Opposition, the BJP?

Khera then argued that even if the funds were meant to influence Bangladesh’s elections, it directly undermines India’s strategic interests.

“This money was sent to Bangladesh, yet Narendra Modi had no clue. What kind of intelligence system does this government have? What kind of foreign policy failure is this?” he asked.

He then took a broader swipe at Modi’s handling of international relations, listing the many ways the Opposition believes the prime minister has repeatedly failed to defend India’s interests on the global stage.

"Trump said he would dismantle BRICS; Modi smiled.

"Trump announced tariffs on India; Modi smiled.

"Trump pressured India into buying outdated F-35 jets; Modi smiled.

"Narendra Modi himself has gone to America and destabilised his own country,” the Congress spokesperson railed.

Congress clarified that it is not opposed to USAID or other funding agencies but merely insisted on transparency and regulation.

“The BJP also receives foreign funds, yet it conveniently targets only the Congress. Where was their outrage when Smriti Irani, as USAID’s brand ambassador, protested on the streets with LPG cylinders? When Anna Hazare led protests in Delhi, bringing down our government, and then staged a roadshow in America — funded by the Ford Foundation and backed by the RSS?” Khera asked.

Congress’ counteroffensive not only exposes BJP’s hypocrisy but also raises serious questions about the Modi government’s intelligence failures and its subservient status in international diplomacy.