BJP’s USAID Hypocrisy: When Misinformation Becomes a Political Weapon

The recent controversy surrounding alleged USAID funding for India’s electoral process, amplified by Donald Trump’s unverified claims, has once again highlighted the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) penchant for political opportunism and hypocrisy. While the party has relentlessly accused the Congress of seeking foreign influence to undermine Indian democracy, its own history reveals a pattern of close engagements with international organizations, including USAID. This selective outrage is not only disingenuous but also exposes a broader strategy of weaponizing foreign policy narratives for domestic political gains.

The uproar began when former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that USAID had allocated $21 million to influence voter turnout in India, framing it as a “kickback scheme.” This claim, unverified and lacking evidence, was immediately seized upon by BJP leaders who accused Congress, particularly Rahul Gandhi, of colluding with foreign entities to destabilize the Modi government. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia went on the offensive, questioning why foreign agencies should have any role in India’s democratic process, portraying the opposition as willing participants in an alleged international conspiracy.

However, this entire narrative quickly collapsed when media reports revealed that the USAID funds in question were actually earmarked for Bangladesh, not India. The BJP’s accusations, built on falsehoods, were exposed as a desperate attempt to manufacture a political scandal. Despite the facts proving otherwise, the BJP refused to back down, a strategy it has perfected—where the initial lie is what matters, not its eventual debunking. In a media ecosystem dominated by narratives favorable to the ruling party, the truth often arrives too late to undo the damage.

Congress, rather than just defending itself, launched a counteroffensive that turned the spotlight on the BJP’s own hypocrisy. Congress leaders pointed out that BJP figures, including Union Minister Smriti Irani, had previously collaborated with USAID. If such engagements were acceptable in the past, why was the BJP now treating them as evidence of anti-national behavior? They also reminded the public of the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement, which played a crucial role in bringing down the UPA government. That movement had financial links to organizations associated with the Ford Foundation, and the RSS was actively involved in its operations. The BJP, which had enthusiastically supported and benefited from this movement, now feigns outrage over alleged foreign involvement in Indian politics.

Congress posed pointed questions that struck at the heart of the BJP’s double standards. Was it true that the CIA funded the RSS’s 1966 anti-cow slaughter rally? Did the Anna Hazare-Arvind Kejriwal movement receive foreign aid? Why did Smriti Irani participate in a USAID event? Why did the Modi government sign agreements with USAID, including for Indian Railways’ net-zero emissions goal? These questions revealed a stark reality: the BJP had itself been deeply involved in collaborations with foreign organizations, yet it conveniently ignored its own history while attacking its opponents.

The hypocrisy becomes even more glaring when examining the Modi government’s extensive partnerships with USAID. Under Modi’s leadership, the government worked closely with USAID on flagship initiatives such as Swachh Bharat, the Cashless India campaign, and COVID-19 aid efforts. USAID played a role in India’s push for digital payments before and after demonetization, a move that had far-reaching economic consequences. If foreign involvement was such a grave threat, why did the Modi government actively seek out and promote these collaborations?

BJP-led state governments have also engaged with USAID, further undermining the party’s narrative that foreign organizations have no place in India’s governance. More damningly, Congress leaders pointed out that Narendra Modi himself, as an RSS worker in 1993, visited the United States and reportedly engaged with USAID-funded organizations. If the BJP’s current position is to be taken seriously, should Modi’s past interactions also be viewed as an attempt to invite foreign interference in Indian politics?

The USAID controversy is not an isolated incident. It fits into a broader pattern where the BJP strategically weaponizes foreign policy narratives to serve its domestic political agenda. The party has repeatedly positioned itself as the sole guardian of national sovereignty, branding opposition leaders as traitors willing to sell out the country to international forces. This tactic works effectively with its nationalist voter base, reinforcing an “us vs. them” mentality that fuels political polarization. Yet, as the USAID debacle demonstrates, these accusations often collapse under scrutiny, revealing themselves as nothing more than manufactured distractions.

This is not the first time the BJP has leveraged foreign influence narratives for electoral gains. Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly been accused of seeking international intervention, despite the fact that Modi himself has actively engaged with foreign governments and institutions throughout his career. The BJP’s entire foreign policy approach is built on international outreach, from forging close ties with global leaders to aggressively courting foreign investments. Yet, when it suits their political interests, they present any opposition leader’s foreign interactions as a grave national security threat.

The real danger of this strategy lies in its long-term impact on Indian democracy. By framing every political challenge as a foreign conspiracy, the BJP shifts public attention away from real governance issues. Economic distress, unemployment, and democratic backsliding are sidelined in favor of hyper-nationalist paranoia. This not only weakens meaningful political debate but also fosters a climate of suspicion where dissent is equated with disloyalty. If every opposition move is framed as foreign interference, elections cease to be genuine democratic contests and instead become nationalist loyalty tests.

The BJP’s willingness to latch onto Trump’s baseless claims is particularly concerning. Trump has a well-documented history of spreading misinformation, yet the ruling party of the world’s largest democracy treated his words as gospel without conducting even basic fact-checking. This reckless approach damages India’s credibility on the global stage and sets a dangerous precedent where foreign political figures—especially those with questionable reliability—can influence India’s domestic discourse. By legitimizing Trump’s false claims, the BJP not only embarrassed itself but also revealed its desperation to fabricate an anti-Congress narrative, regardless of the truth.

The USAID controversy is ultimately a stark reminder of the BJP’s cynical approach to political discourse. By accusing Congress of seeking foreign influence while conveniently ignoring its own history of deep engagements with USAID and other international entities, the BJP exposes itself as a party more interested in political theatrics than in genuine national security concerns. This level of hypocrisy erodes public trust in democratic institutions and further corrodes the integrity of political debate in India.

Moving forward, the focus must be on transparency and accountability. If the BJP is genuinely concerned about foreign influence in Indian politics, it should start by answering for its own past collaborations with international organizations. Misinformation and propaganda should not be the basis of political battles; instead, leaders should be held to the same standards they impose on their opponents. The BJP’s selective outrage on the USAID issue is a case study in political opportunism—one that Indian voters should not forget as the country moves closer to another electoral contest.