I-N-D-I-A a recipient of Anti-India Funds?
In the period running up to the General Election 2024 in India, there are reports of foreign meddling. Reports were trickling from European Union and USA that some foreign groups are uneasy with Indian Premier Modi’s strong nationalism. They were especially concerned with PM Modi adopting a strong approach towards making India a World Economic power, his “Atm-Nirbhar Bharat” plan that is reducing foreign influence on Indian Economy, Import-Export, Foreign Relations, Defence Strategies, and stakes in G-7 & 20.
Foreign Meddling thru’ Grey Funds
At least three broad firms have emerged as meddling in Indian internal affairs during the general election 2024 with a sole aim to unseat Modi’s BJP from powers. This included George Soros' Open Society Foundation (OSF) & French Indologist; political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot (CJ) and the US-based Henry Luce Foundation (HLF)1. US-based Hindenburg Research group was another foreign foundation indulging in fraudulent anti-India equity. George Soros had been stupid enough to come on camera to view his sentiments to unseat PM Modi from powers. Besides, Canadian and American based Sikh Separatists, Maoists, LTTE, Pak-linked Jihadists too have been trying to wash hands in troubled waters of Electoral Politics of India.
George Soros is believed to have planned a ‘Smear campaign’ against PM Narendra Modi and his govt through manipulated reports, fake narratives and character assassinations. He was ready to invest $2 billion to unseat Modi govt through multi-source contracts into Indian politicians, with Congress party and its functionaries allegedly being the main recipient.
Christophe Jaffrelot had a more sinister plan to divide Indian political class by fuelling Caste census and Caste-based reservations with far reaching consequences to cleavage Indian society. Like Mandal Commission, the Caste-based divide could spiral out of control at any given time the politicians considered appropriate. Lalu Yadav’s RJD and Sonia-Rahul Gandhi’s Congress took lead in stirring the hornets’ nest of ‘caste-census’ and caste-based reservations. Rahul Gandhi is also a recipient of grey funds (for Rajiv Gandhi foundation) from Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through a MoU signed in 2008 having wide ramifications in Indian Defence and boundaries. Sam Pitroda having significant US connections, could be the link behind Rahul Gandhi’s smear campaigns against India and its Institutions especially on foreign soils. It may be worth mentioning here that no sooner the Finance Minister Mrs Sitharaman had mentioned of “Atm-Nirbhar” plan in 2019 budget, Chinese PLA indulged in Galwan. It may although be a co-incident too. Several fake narratives of Congress such as “Constitution in danger, Democracy in danger, Modi is anti-Dalit, Modi undermining Institutions, India has high inflation etc etc” could have been generated under this plan.
The US-based Henry Luce Foundation has a broader impact both thru’ Jaffrelot in beating Muslim-oriented anti-majoritarian campaigns and also ‘Time’ magazine based propaganda through some of tainted senior Indian journalists (read “The pseudo-Liberals of India”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/pseudoliberals-of-india-part1/). All players on ‘Muslim Vote-bank politics’ in I-N-D-I-A bloc are believed to have bitten this bait. One may recall how Yogi Adityanath had mentioned of Congress manifesto to resemble Mughal mindset.
Pakistan and its ISI had been working overtime to destabilise India ever since the abrogation of article 370. The protests in the forms of various Shaheenbaghs were possibly not enough. Hence, they started a massive Farmers’ protest with the in-flow of funds, mostly from separatist groups abroad. Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal-Bhagwant Mann is believed to have bitten the Khalistani separatist bait earlier in Punjab election and now in Lok Sabha election 2024 too. Hateful statements of Khalistani separatists Pannun in US and some others like Maoists, LTTE, Pak-Jihadists in Canada and UK could be part of it. The past and present Farmers protests could be part of it. The others foreign players incl Hindenburg Research have largely been covert in their approaches. Of course, based on this fake report, Congress party of India was able to hold Indian parliament to ransom during its session.
Scaring Muslim voters against Modi was their main theme during election rallies and campaigns. This seems to have worked well during the voting too when in the scorching temperatures the BJP-leaning voters refrained from coming out to cast their votes BUT Muslims and their burqa clad women stood in long queues, many with fake IDs. This could have well influenced the outcome of the election results in several constituencies of UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. It is nothing but a flawed Indian democracy manipulated by the others (read “India a Flawed Democracy”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/india-and-its-flawed-democracy/).
The Net-Effect
Whatever might have been the aim of foreigners in meddling Indian general Elections 2024, their success could best be termed as partial. Modi and his NDA emerged as victor with absolute majority with all constituents of the alliance standing by him. The net effects have been rather upsetting for Modis plans of “400 paar” (read “What made Modi so confident of 370+”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/what-makes-modi-confident-of-370-parliamentary-election-2024/). In fact, Modi’s BJP shrunk to just 230+ seats losing its own majority (read “2024 Elections: Modi Wins but India and its Democracy Loses”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/2024-elections-modi-wins-india-democracy-loses/). Now Modi govt has to tow the line of coalition politics that may compel the new govt to deviate on many of his decisions and pet-projects. It will be similar to the other coalition-politics, similar to what we observed during Bajpayee’s time.
The Bottom lines
Indian Elections in past have seldom been isolated from foreign interferences. Many people may have their past experiences of how CIA and some others allegedly meddled the elections during Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and UPA I & II days. However, the new trends in the forms of dedicated anti-India groups mentioned above are worrisome in which many Indians are involved in anti-India conspiracy. It is a problem not only for Indian govt BUT Indian Societies too that could face serious divisions and disruptions. India and Indians must be warry and stand against it.
References
“The Invisible Hands”, Dhairya Maheswari. https://sputniknews.in/20240603/invisible-hands-us-and-eu-funded-millions-to-interfere-in-indian-elections---report-7515022.html.