New Delhi:The Congress on Thursday demanded that the government bring out a white paper at the earliest “detailing the USAID’s support to both government and non government institutions over the decades”.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “USAID is very much in the news these days. It was set up on November 3, 1961. Claims being made by the US President are typically nonsensical to say the least. Even so, the Government of India should bring out a White Paper at the earliest detailing USAID’s support to both governmental and non-governmental institutions in India over the decades”.
The Opposition party’s assertion comes after US President Donald Trump questioned the purpose of providing $21 million to India for “voter turnout”.
Earlier, the Congress accused BJP leader Smriti Irani of being the “real agent” of billionaire investor George Soros. The Congress targeted Irani by highlighting her past role as a former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) “goodwill ambassador” to criticise the former Union minister.
In a post on X, Congress leader and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge said, “According to the Government’s official website, Smriti Irani’s bio states that she has served as the USAID ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ to India”.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya refuted the allegations, saying WHO appointed Irani as the ORS Goodwill Brand Ambassador from 2002 to 2005. “At the time, she was a household name due to the immense popularity of her television show”.
