New Delhi:

The BJP lashed out at the Congress, accusing it of seeking foreign funds to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from coming to power in 2014. The party’s allegations came a day after US President Donald Trump questioned a move by former president Joe Biden’s administration to provide $21 million to India for “voter turnout” and questioned if they were “trying to get somebody else elected”.

The Congress has demanded a White Paper on the USAID funds to India and dubbed Trump’s claims as “nonsensical”.

BJP sources said during the rule of the erstwhile Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the government received $204.28 million, while the NGOs received $2114.96 million. This inflow slowed down to a trickle once the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power. The government funding dropped to $1 million from 2014 to 2015, though the funding of non-profits increased to $2579.73 million. 

Since its creation, George Soros’s OCCRP, which produced anti-government reports that were used by the Congress to target the NDA government, received $47 million, sources said.  

“After the Modi Government came to power, funding to the NGOs and other avenues in India increased significantly, showcasing how the focus has shifted from USAID being directly involved in governmental matters to funding anti-India/anti-national forums in India,” BJP sources claimed.

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress’s senior leader and communications in-charge, has hit back with a demand for a White Paper.

In a post on X, Mr 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 Govt 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”.

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 Govt of India should bring out a White Paper at the earliest detailing USAID’s support to both…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 20, 2025

On February 16, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by US billionaire and SpaceX chief Musk, listed items on which the “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent” and the list included “$21 million for voter turnout in India”.

On Thursday, Trump questioned the purpose of providing $21 million to India for “voter turnout”. “Why do we need to spend USD 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected,” President Trump said.

New Delhi:

The United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has cancelled a $21 million US taxpayer-funded grant – under former President Joe Biden’s administration – meant to influence “voter turnout in India.” In its announcement, DOGE highlighted that the $21 million was part of a larger $486 million budget allocated to the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.” 

Another $29 million was slated for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh” – a country that witnessed political turmoil amid allegations of US ‘deep state’ involvement in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

The Musk-led department revealed that other taxpayer-funded projects also faced the axe, including:

• $47 million for “improving learning outcomes in Asia”
• $40 million for a “gender equality and women empowerment hub”
• $32 million to the Prague Civil Society Centre
• $22 million to foster an “inclusive and participatory political process” in Moldova. 
• $20 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal
• $19 million for “biodiversity conservation” in Nepal
• $14 million for “social cohesion” in Mali
• $14 million for “improving public procurement” in Serbia
• $10 million for “Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision”
• $9.7 million for UC Berkeley to develop “a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise-driven skills”
• $2.5 million for “inclusive democracies in Southern Africa”
• $2.3 million for “strengthening independent voices in Cambodia”
• $2 million to develop “sustainable recycling models” to “increase socio-economic cohesion among marginalised communities of Kosovo Roma, Ashkali, and Egypt”
• $1.5 million for “voter confidence” in Liberia

US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled:
– $10M for “Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision”
– $9.7M for UC Berkeley to develop “a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills”
– $2.3M for “strengthening…

— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 15, 2025

The sweeping cancellations, Mr Musk’s department stated, were part of efforts to improve government efficiency and ensure taxpayer dollars were not being spent on “questionable” overseas political activities.

BJP’s “External Interference” Response

The BJP termed the now-cancelled funding “external interference” in India’s electoral process.

“$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!” said BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya in a statement 

Mr Malviya further alleged “systematic infiltration” of Indian institutions by foreign forces, particularly targeting billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros and his alleged network of global influence through his Open Society Foundation.

“Once again, it is George Soros, a known associate of the Congress party and the Gandhis, whose shadow looms over our electoral process,” Mr Malviya claimed.

Once again, it is George Soros, a known associate of the Congress party and the Gandhis, whose shadow looms over our electoral process.

In 2012, under the leadership of S.Y. Quraishi, the Election Commission signed an MoU with The International Foundation for Electoral… https://t.co/PO13Iyroee pic.twitter.com/gdgAQoDbPh

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 16, 2025

He also flagged the controversial 2012 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Election Commission of India and The International Foundation for Electoral Systems, an organisation linked to Mr Soros’s Open Society Foundation, which is primarily funded by USAID – the American federal body that oversees foreign aid and is facing massive budget cuts under Donald Trump’s presidency. 

“Ironically, those questioning the transparent and inclusive process of appointing India’s Election Commissioner-a first in our democracy, where previously the Prime Minister alone made the decision-had no hesitation in handing over the entire Election Commission of India to foreign operators,” Mr Malviya added.

According to Mr Malviya, the Congress-led UPA government “systematically enabled the infiltration of India’s institutions by forces opposed to the nation’s interests-those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity.”

The BJP alleges that foreign-backed civil society organisations and NGOs, particularly those linked to Mr Soros, have been working to influence Indian politics. 

The Bangladesh Situation 

The announcement that $29 million was marked for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh” comes just days after President Trump addressed allegations of ‘deep state’ involvement in the recent political developments in Bangladesh. Asked during a joint press briefing with PM Modi whether the previous Biden administration had orchestrated a regime change, President Trump denied any such involvement.

“There was no role for our deep state. This is something the Prime Minister has been working on for a long time, for hundreds of years, frankly. I have been reading about it. I will leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister,” President Trump said.

The response has done little to quell speculation. The ousting of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the subsequent rise of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the country’s interim leader have fueled claims of US-backed political manoeuvring.

Since Ms Hasina’s departure, diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated. Delhi has raised concerns about increasing attacks on religious minorities under the new regime.

Rome, Italy:

Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said on Thursday Elon Musk’s political interventions only caused outrage because he wasn’t left-wing — and that foreigners had been interfering in Italian politics for years.

Meloni, head of the post-Fascist Brothers of Italy party, said Musk was exercising his right to free speech. Instead, she accused powerful people on the left of political interference, including billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros.

Musk — a billionaire ally of US President-elect Donald Trump who is set for a role in the incoming administration — has provoked fury across Europe with a string of attacks on the continent’s leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Meloni rejected a suggestion that Musk’s comments on his X social network constituted “dangerous interference”.

“The problem is when wealthy people use their resources to finance parties, associations and political exponents all over the world to influence the political choices of nation states”, Meloni told reporters at a yearly press conference.

“That’s not what Musk is doing,” she insisted.

“Elon Musk financed an election campaign in his country, by his candidate, in a system in which, by the way, I would point out that this is quite common,” she said.

“But I am not aware of Elon Musk financing parties, associations or political exponents around the world.

“This, for example, is what George Soros does,” Meloni alleged.

“And yes, I consider that to be dangerous interference in the affairs of nation states and in their sovereignty,” she said.

Reviled by conservatives, and often the target of anti-Semitic conspiracies, Soros used wealth amassed as a financier in the 1970s and 80s to create the Open Society Foundations (OSF), which support a broad arrange of causes and NGOs worldwide, ranging from good-governance and democracy-building programmes to liberal public policy initiatives.

He has been a major donor during US elections but does not own a social media network or hold a position in government.

‘Not left-wing’

“Is the problem that Elon Musk is influential and rich or that he is not left-wing?” queried Meloni, who has described Musk as a “genius”.

She slammed “those who until yesterday described exponents of big finance — who often bet against nation states, who finance exponents of political associations — as fine, as philanthropy”.

Meloni said she had not taken any money from Musk, “unlike those who have taken it from Soros”.

She has denied media reports that her government is on the cusp of signing a giant, and controversial, cybersecurity deal with Musk’s company SpaceX.

Meloni said she refrained from commenting on other countries’ domestic politics herself but had herself repeatedly been the victim of attacks.

She compared “left-wing” outrage over Musk’s vocal support for the extreme-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of elections there, with “left-wing” silence over what she said was “interference” by top German politicians in Italy’s 2022 general election.

Twice during the press conference Meloni referred to Musk as Donald Trump by mistake.

Musk’s political initiatives are intimately linked to his economic interests, experts suggest.

He is an enthusiastic supporter of Meloni — Italy’s most right-wing leader since 1945.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly criticised US President Joe Biden’s decision to honour billionaire philanthropist George Soros with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom,” Musk stated bluntly on X.

A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom https://t.co/LGvGe8kqKE

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2025

President Biden announced the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday, naming 19 individuals whose contributions span politics, philanthropy, sports, and the arts. Soros, a billionaire investor and founder of the Open Society Foundations, was cited for his “focus on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice,” according to the official White House statement.

Other notable awardees this year include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, football legend Lionel Messi, and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington, among others.

George Soros’ son Alex Soros collecting the medal on his behalf.
Photo Credit: AFP

Soros’ selection has sparked polarised responses, particularly given his longstanding role as a key donor to Democratic causes and his frequent vilification by Republican politicians. Critics, including Musk and several Republican figures, have framed the honour as politically motivated. President Biden, however, defended the list of recipients as individuals who embody America’s values and contribute to its global standing.

“These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to our country and the world. They defend the values of America, even when under attack,” Biden stated during the announcement.

The Republican Party has long accused Soros of using his wealth to influence global politics. 

George Soros was at the centre of a political flashpoint in India as well.  

The Winter Session of Parliament witnessed chaos in December as BJP chief JP Nadda accused the Congress of being linked to Soros and his organisations. Mr Nadda claimed that the Congress party was acting as a “tool” of foreign forces to destabilise India, citing alleged ties between party chief leader Sonia Gandhi and Soros-funded initiatives.  

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge refuted the allegations, calling them baseless and accusing the BJP of diverting attention from pressing socio-economic issues in the country. The heated exchange led to multiple adjournments in both houses of Parliament.

Soros’ influence and the controversy surrounding him extend far beyond international borders. His Open Society Foundations have faced pushback in countries like Hungary and Russia, where his initiatives are often painted as foreign interference.

President Joe Biden, right, presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor, to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the East Room of the White House, on January 4, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday (January 4, 2025) presented U.S.’ highest civilian award to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, controversial philanthropist George Soros, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, scientist Bill Nye, and actor Denzel Washington along with 14 others with the country’s highest civilian award — the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Due to scheduling conflict, Argentinian football star Lionel Messi could not be present in person at the White House to receive the award from the U.S. president.

“For the final time as President, I have the honour of bestowing the Medal of Freedom on our nation’s highest civilian honour on a group of extraordinary, truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort, their sacred effort, to shape the culture and the cause of America,” Mr. Biden said at a glittering function in the East Room of the White House.

Former president Bill Clinton, several of his Cabinet members including Defense Secretary Loyd Austin along with several celebrities were present in the East Room of the White House during the awards ceremony Saturday afternoon.

“This group of people leave an incredible mark on our country with insight and influence that can be felt around the globe in major cities and remote areas of life, finding us closer as people and showing us that what’s possible as a nation, nothing beyond our capacity,” Mr. Biden said.

“As cultural icons, … humanitarians, rock stars, sports stars, you feed the hungry, you give hope to those who are hurting, and you craft the signs and sounds of our movements and our memories. It’s amazing, your innovation, you inspire, you bring healing and joy to so many lives otherwise wouldn’t be touched. You answer the call to serve and lead others to do the same thing. You defend the values of America even when they’re under attack, which they have been,” Mr. Biden said after which he presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Fannie Lou Hamer, who transformed the struggle for racial justice in America, Ashton Carter, who served as the 25th Secretary of Defense, Robert Francis Kennedy remembered as an Attorney General who fiercely combatted racial segregation, and George W Romney, a businessman who served as the chairman and president of American Motors Corporation, were awarded posthumously. The medals were received by their family members.

Hillary Clinton was the only recipient to get a standing ovation.

“As a lawyer, she defended the rights of children. As First Lady, she fought for universal health care and declared women’s rights are human rights. As Senator, she helped New York rebuild after September 11, 2001. As Secretary of State, she championed democracy worldwide. Her nomination for president broke barriers and inspired generations. Through it all, her career has been dedicated to an eternal truth. America’s ideals are sacred, and we must always defend and live by them,” a military aide read the citation as she was presented the medal by the president.

Alex Soros accepted the award on behalf of his father George Soros, an investor, philanthropist, and founder of the Open Society Foundations.

“The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to George Soros. Born into a Jewish family in Hungary, George Soros escaped Nazi occupation to build a life of freedom for himself and countless others around the world. Educated in England, he settled in America as he became an investor and philanthropist supporting key pillars of open societies, rights and justice, equity and equality, freedom now and in the future,” said the citation as read by the military aid.

“As an immigrant who found freedom and prosperity in America, I am deeply moved by this honor,” George Soros in a statement. “I accept it on behalf of the many people around the world with whom the Open Society Foundations have made common cause over the past 40 years,” he said.

However, Mr. Biden was slammed by MAGA supporters and Republican leadership for giving the award to Soros. “Giving George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom is another slap in the face of America after reducing the sentences of murderers and pardoning his son. 16 days is a long time until the Inauguration. What is he capable of sliding in next? January 20th can’t come soon enough,” GOP leader Nikki Haley said.

“George Soros spent millions electing soft-on-crime politicians that let criminals wreak havoc in our major cities,” Montana Senator Tim Sheehy told The New York Post.

Alex who received the award on behalf of his father said his father is an American patriot who has spent his life fighting for freedom and human rights. “I am incredibly proud that his legacy is now recognized with our nation’s highest civilian honour. This award isn’t just about the work he’s done; as President Biden said, it is a call to action for all of us to fight for democracy on behalf of anyone yearning to be free,” he said.

US President Joe Biden has announced the names of 19 individuals who will receive the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The awardees include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, football superstar Lionel Messi, and former Defence Secretary late Ashton Carter.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other notable endeavors.

According to the White House, Biden believes that great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else and that these nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place.

Hillary Clinton, who made history as the first First Lady elected to the US Senate, will receive the award for her decades of public service. Clinton later became the first woman nominated for president by a major US political party.

Investor and philanthropist George Soros will also receive the award. Through his network of foundations, partners, and projects in over 120 countries, Soros has focused on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice. However, Soros has been a vocal critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his criticism has sparked controversy in the past.

Football superstar Lionel Messi, the most decorated player in professional soccer history, will receive the award for his outstanding contributions to the sport. Messi supports healthcare and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

The award ceremony will take place at the White House, where President Biden will present the medals to the awardees. Other notable recipients of the award include Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights activist; Robert Francis Kennedy, who served as Attorney General and US Senator; and Jose Andres, a renowned chef and culinary innovator.

The list of awardees also includes Bono, frontman of U2 and activist against AIDS and poverty; Michael J. Fox, actor and advocate for Parkinson’s disease research; Jane Goodall, ethologist and conservationist; and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, retired basketball player and entrepreneur.

William Sanford Nye, science educator and communicator, will receive the award for his work in inspiring and influencing generations of American students. David M Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group and philanthropist, will be recognised for his generous support for the restoration of historic landmarks and the country’s cultural institutions.

Other awardees include George Stevens, Jr, award-winning writer, director, and playwright; Denzel Washington, actor, director, and producer; and Anna Wintour, fashion icon and editor-in-chief of Vogue.
 

New Delhi:

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday refuted Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s claims regarding the former insisting the inclusion of billionaire George Soros in an invite list to a 2009 dinner in the US.

Mr Tharoor said his and Mr Puri’s recollections of the dinner hosted by the latter during his tenure as the Indian Ambassador to the US differ. “I was completely unaware of any Mr Soros having any connection to any foundation in India – and have never discussed it with him either. All I remember hearing from him at that occasion was his strong objection to our government’s stand on the West’s responsibility for global warming,” The Thiruvananthapuram MP wrote in a post on X.

.Our recollections differ, dear Hardeep. There were several guests present at your well-attended dinner whom i had never met before. But i am not objecting; it is entirely appropriate that on such an occasion the Indian Ambassador should have a guest-list spanning a wide…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 21, 2024

The matter began on December 15 when an X user who identified himself as a BJP worker from Karnataka showed Mr Tharoor an old post from 2009 in which Mr Tharoor wrote, “Met old friend George Soros, upbeat about India and curious about our neighbourhood. He’s far more than an investor: a concerned world citizen.”

On Friday, Mr Puri responded to Mr Tharoor’s post on X that he met US billionaire George Soros at a formal dinner at the former’s New York home. Mr Puri indicated the Congress MP did not show the whole picture – he said it was Mr Tharoor himself who gave the list of invitees for the dinner, and the “gentleman in question was among the benefactors of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and the Minister of State was keen to meet him.”

Mr Puri went on to say that it became clear in retrospect that Mr Soros was an invitee because he was among the benefactors of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. He added that that was why Mr Tharoor, then Minister of State External Affairs, wanted to meet him.

New Delhi:

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has responded to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s post on X that he met US billionaire George Soros at a formal dinner at Mr Puri’s New York home when the Union Minister was India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the United Nations.

Mr Puri indicated the Congress MP did not show the whole picture – he said it was Mr Tharoor himself who gave the list of invitees for the dinner, and the “gentleman in question was among the benefactors of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and the Minister of State was keen to meet him.”

Mr Tharoor was the Minister of State for External Affairs at that time.

“In retrospect, it is clear that the name was included because the gentleman in question was among the benefactors of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and the Minister of State was keen to meet him,” Mr Puri said.

“Language has frequently been accorded pride of place amongst major arts of deception. Some of my friends in the Congress party excel in obfuscation; but they tweet at their own peril,” Mr Puri, the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, said in a post on X.

The matter began on December 15 when an X user who identified himself as a BJP worker from Karnataka showed Mr Tharoor an old post from 2009 in which Mr Tharoor wrote, “Met old friend George Soros, upbeat about India and curious about our neighbourhood. He’s far more than an investor: a concerned world citizen.”

George Soros is a controversial figure for Indians due to the anti-India rhetoric he used a few years ago. The ruling BJP has often accused top leaders of the opposition Congress for allegedly colluding with George Soros to destabilise the country, including using the West’s deep state — agencies and personnel, academics and think tanks — which finds expression in the western media.

Responding to the BJP worker, Mr Tharoor in a long post on X said he met George Soros “at the home of then-Ambassador and now-BJP Minister Hardeep Puri when I was visiting NY as MoS MEA.”

“Amb Puri had invited a number of prominent Americans for a dinner discussion with me (and that was entirely appropriate). I have not been in touch with Mr Soros since, nor be with me, and my old relationship never had any political connotations,” Mr Tharoor said.

Mr Tharoor said George Soros was a friend in the social sense. “I have never received or solicited a penny from him or any of his foundations for myself or any institution or cause I supported,” the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.

Since there is so much unhealthy curiosity about this tweet, I knew Mr Soros well in my @UN days as an upstanding international-minded resident of New York. He was a friend in the social sense: i have never received or solicited a penny from him or any of his foundations for… https://t.co/c1PmAHygyl

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 15, 2024

On Friday, Mr Puri shot back at Mr Tharoor with a long post on X that added context to the situation when George Soros came to a dinner where the two then-diplomats were present.

“My friend Dr Shashi Tharoor ji, who was a student in St Stephen’s College in DU when I was a member of the teaching faculty, had arrived in New York as MoS External Affairs shortly after I was posted as India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at UN. I hosted him and his companion at a briefing breakfast on 11 October 2009, and then for dinner on the evening of 12 October 2009,” Mr Puri said.

“Since I was just a few months old in the city then, but Dr Tharoor had spent considerable time in New York, I did not choose the list of invitees for the dinner. It was given to me by Minister Tharoor,” he said.

“Apart from members of the diplomatic fraternity I noticed the name of Mr Soros in the list and I clearly remember bringing it up with the then Minister, who had also met him in May 2009 and even tweeted about it. That is the only time in my life when I met Mr Soros. When Dr Tharoor tweeted about the dinner, I called him on 15 December to remind him of the context. Normally he is very prompt, but this time he didn’t take my call,” the Union Minister said.

“In retrospect, it is clear that the name was included because the gentleman in question was among the benefactors of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and the Minister of State was keen to meet him,” Mr Puri said.

Language has frequently been accorded pride of place amongst major arts of deception.
Some of my friends in the Congress Party excel in obfuscation; but they tweet at their own peril.

I want to take up two issues raised by them.
First – my friend Dr @ShashiTharoor Ji, who was a… pic.twitter.com/sIWc2omjg8

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) December 20, 2024

All this campaign against backsliding of democracy in India and capture of institutions curbs on freedom of press. In other words, create a narrative globally, which would, to the extent it can be effective on the ground, damage India and India’s prospects of attracting foreign investment and everything else by giving the impression that India is sliding into a kind of a political and administrative system which is not very conducive to Western values,” he said.  

India’s former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, in an interview to NDTV on December 9, had said there seems to be a campaign going on against backsliding of democracy in India, capture of institutions, and curbs on freedom of press.

“In other words, create a narrative globally, which would, to the extent it can be effective on the ground, damage India and India’s prospects of attracting foreign investment and everything else by giving the impression that India is sliding into a kind of a political and administrative system which is not very conducive to Western values,” Mr Sibal said.

New Delhi:

The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday seemed to step back from a Congress – its INDIA bloc ally – under heavy fire from the BJP over alleged links between Sonia Gandhi and George Soros.

In a remark that raised eyebrows, senior Samajwadi leader Dimple Yadav said her party stands “neither with the Soros issue nor with the Adani issue”, and wants only a functioning Parliament.

To that end, she called on all political parties to keep the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha running; each House has seen repeated disruptions and adjournments this session as the Congress and BJP clash over Soros-Sonia Gandhi links and the United States’ indictment on Adani Energy.

“The House is running. It was functional today and we are hopeful that it will keep running. We are neither with the Soros issue nor with the Adani issue. We believe the House should run, and we hope people from both sides will show dedication towards functioning of the House.”

“There will be a discussion on the Constitution on Friday and Saturday… the Samajwadi Party wants the House to function,” the MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri told reporters.

#WATCH | Delhi: SP MP Dimple Yadav says, “The House is running. It was functional today and we are hopeful that it keep running… We are neither with the Soros issue nor with the Adani issue. We believe that the House should run. We hope that the people of both sides will show… pic.twitter.com/ws6iw19bGa

— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

The appeal came as there was another ruckus, in the Lok Sabha, after Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee locked horns with Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and used a derogatory word.

The clash forced another adjournment of the House, and the remark was expunged.

Ms Yadav’s comments underline the SP-Congress divide; the former party and other INDIA bloc members have not agreed with the Congress on the gameplan for this Parliament session.

The Congress has made it clear it intends to only raise the Adani indictment issue, but others, such as Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool, have a much wider agenda, that includes the violence in Manipur.

READ | “Congress Only Wants…”: Trinamool Against Focus On Adani

“We want Parliament to run. We don’t want to disrupt the House on just one issue. We will hold this government accountable on multiple counts,” Trinamool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said earlier.

As a result, the opposition has been largely fractured this session, allowing the BJP to go on the offensive. The ruling party has targeted the Congress over a French news report claiming “hidden links” between a Soros-funded publication and the United States government.

READ | BJP’s Nadda vs Congress’ Kharge In Soros-Sonia Gandhi Link Row

The BJP has alleged the publication in question – the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project – publishes anti-India material that is then used by the Congress to defame the country.

The Congress has hit back firmly at the allegation, rubbishing links between itself and George Soros. The party also thundered, “We are patriots… there is no question of an anti-India stance”.

The Soros-Sonia Gandhi attacks lit up the Rajya Sabha this week, leading to a confrontation between Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge and his BJP counterpart, JP Nadda.

The Congress alleged Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar was ignoring opposition MPs’ voices, in favour of those from the BJP, and, in a historic first, tabled a no-confidence motion in the Chair.

NDTV Explains | No-Trust Vote Against Rajya Sabha Chair, And The Numbers

The motion is unlikely to pass, given the opposition does not have the numbers and because it bypasses a rule stating notice of 14 days is required for the House to consider a vote.

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New Delhi:

Senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani has ripped into the Congress and the Gandhi family, saying Sonia Gandhi’s former leadership role in the Forum of Democratic Leaders – a think-tank funded partly by the George Soros Foundation – and consequent links to Mr Soros “exposes her to grave criminal charges… in view of (the Forum’s) public advocacy of independence for Kashmir”.

In a long and scathing post on X Mr Jethmalani also threw his weight behind the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which rocked this Parliament session by alleging collusion between Mrs Gandhi and Mr Soros to defame Indian business interests and adversely impact national security.

“Sonia Gandhi’s co-presidency of the Forum of Democratic Leaders (Asia Pacific) not only establishes her links with George Soros, as the Forum is heavily financed by the George Soros Foundation, but also exposes her to grave criminal charges under (anti-terror law) UAPA in view of public advocacy of independence for Kashmir by the Forum,” the ex-Rajya Sabha MP said.

“… the BJP has exposed the unholy Sonia/Soros nexus and the Forum’s sinister objective qua Kashmir… Promotion of secessionism is a grave offence under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) and the National Investigation Agency must lodge a FIR.” he also said.

#SoniaGandhi‘s co-presidency of the Forum of Democratic Leaders – Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) not only establishes her links with #GeorgeSoros, as the Forum is heavily financed by the George Soros Foundation, but also exposes her to grave criminal charges under the #UAPA in view of the…

— Mahesh Jethmalani (@JethmalaniM) December 11, 2024

Neither Mrs Gandhi nor the Congress have, so far, responded to Mr Jethmalani’s attack, although the party on Monday thundered, “We are patriots… there is no question of an anti-India stance.”

Soros Links “Ridiculous”: Priyanka Gandhi

Mr Jethmalani also slammed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who on Tuesday counter-attacked by accusing the BJP of using “the most ridiculous thing” to distract focus from the Congress’ demand – a discussion on the United States’ indictment naming Adani Green Energy.

READ | “Ridiculous, BJP Scared”: PGV On Sonia Gandhi-George Soros Links

“It is the most ridiculous thing they could come up with. They are talking about some 1994 thing… No one knows what they are talking about. The only reason they are doing this is because they don’t want to discuss the Adani issue… they are scared… because the truth will be revealed,” she told reporters.

Ms Gandhi Vadra wasn’t the only Congress leader to come out swinging. Karti Chidambaram dismissed the allegations, telling NDTV “dark fantasies” should be confined to the “dark web”. “People have dark, morbid fantasies and they can continue to have them (but) there will be no credence given.”

PGV’s Comments “Vacuous”

“Priyanka Vadra’s dismissal of her mother’s links with Soros, in a concerted promotion of Kashmiri separatism, is a vacuous response that reveals a reckless disregard for India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr Jethmalani hit back in his post on Wednesday.

Calling other senior Congress leaders for their “silence” – he singled out party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh – he also said the BJP “cannot let the issue rest with the exposure”.

He also attacked the Gandhi family, and Ms Gandhi Vadra’s husband, Robert Vadra, for having “escaped the clutches of the law for too long in corruption cases”, pointing to earlier scam allegations, including Bofors, Agusta, and the National Herald cases.

Congress vs BJP Over Adani Row

The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, has made the Adani issue the cornerstone of its gameplan for this Parliament session. Mr Gandhi is a fierce critic of ties between the Adani Group and the BJP, which has firmly refuted any improper link to the Gautam Adani-led corporate giant.

The Adani Group, meanwhile, has maintained that billionaire and group head Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and senior executive Vineet Jain are clear of bribery charges, and that the indictment fails to offer evidence to back its claim. It also refuted all charges as “baseless”.

READ | “Democratic Deep State Weaponising US Courts”: M Jethmalani In Adani Case

On that occasion too Mr Jethmalani had come out swinging, warning the Congress to provide “public evidence of wrongdoing” or risk “behaving like a local agent of a foreign power”.

READ | BJP’s Nadda vs Congress’ Kharge Over Soros-Sonia Gandhi Link Claims

The row over the Adani issue – the BJP insisting the real story is the Sonia Gandhi-Soros link, and the Congress demanding a discussion on the indictment – has thrown Parliament into a tailspin, prompting adjournments and, this week, a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar.

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