NEW DELHI: India has formally asked US embassy to urgently furnish details of expenditure incurred on all USAID-assisted or funded projects in India over the past 10 years. MEA informed Rajya Sabha last week, in response to a written question, that it has also sought information about NGOs through whom various initiatives may have been executed.
However, such details are yet to be provided by the US side, said minister of state for external affairs ministry Kirti Vardhan Singh in his response. He was responding to a question about US President Donald Trump’s allegation that USAID spent $21 million to boost voter turnout in India’s elections.
Govt had earlier said that Indian agencies were probing the issue.
“While there is some open-source information available on this matter, govt understandably expects an official response from the US govt on this matter,” he said.
Publicly available information about beneficiary individuals/organisations has also been redacted in certain cases apparently in line with the exceptions outlined in US Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016.
As per that legislation, exceptional redactions include information that would jeopardise health or security of an implementing partner or programme beneficiary. Another justification is a determination that the information online would be detrimental to the national interests of US, added the minister.
On steps being taken to prevent Trump’s remarks on tariffs from affecting India-US ties, the minister said both sides remain engaged to address all issues of concern including the issue of trade and tariffs in a constructive manner.
Singh said Modi’s visit to Washington DC on Feb 13 offered an opportunity for both the leaders to reaffirm the strength of India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership that is anchored in mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill and robust engagement of their citizens.
