BJP Criticizes DOGE’s Cancellation of $22 Million for Voter Turnout in India

Elon Musk-led DOGE Cancels $22 Million Funding for Voter Turnout in India, BJP Criticizes the Decision

In a surprising move on Saturday, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of a $22 million funding meant to boost voter turnout in India. The official DOGE account shared a list of government-funded projects that would no longer proceed, with the controversial allocation for India’s voter turnout being one of them.

The DOGE announcement stated, “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following initiatives, all of which are now cancelled.”

Following the announcement, Amit Malviya of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) voiced his concerns on X, questioning the legitimacy of the funding. “$21M for voter turnout? This is clear external interference in India’s electoral process. Who stands to gain from this? Definitely not the ruling party!” he stated.

In addition to the India funding, DOGE scrapped other global projects, including a $10 million initiative for “Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision” and a significant $486 million earmarked for the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.” This funding included $22 million allocated for Moldova’s political inclusivity and another $21 million for voter turnout in India.

The decision to cancel these programs marks a significant shift in DOGE’s strategy, with Musk’s leadership pushing for drastic cost-cutting. However, the department’s efforts to gain access to key government systems, such as the Treasury payment system, have sparked pushback from other agencies, as reported earlier by CNN.

Interestingly, this funding cut comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Elon Musk during Modi’s recent visit to the United States. The two leaders discussed strengthening collaboration in areas such as innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.

Following their meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement emphasizing the commitment to enhancing cooperation between India and the US in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and governance.

As both nations work to strengthen ties, the shifting funding priorities have sparked debate and garnered attention from global observers.