A major political earthquake has come to the fore in India at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is about to visit the United States and meet President Donald Trump. Former US State Department Senior official Mike Benz has alleged that the US has interfered in India's internal politics. Not only this, the US has also tried to interfere in Bangladesh's politics. Mike Benz in an interview with The Guardian further claimed that the US State Department ran a 'misinformation campaign' against Prime Minister Narendra Modi online and even banned pro-Modi content.
He has claimed that the US has tried to influence India's politics through media influence, social media censorship, and financial support to opposition movements. Benz alleges that organizations associated with the US government have tried to influence elections, destabilize governments, and form governments in accordance with it under the guise of 'promoting democracy'.
Funding was done to defeat BJP in elections: Mike Benz
Organizations like USAID have tried to influence India's 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This organization has prepared an election narrative against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through funding. He has given this information by posting it on his social media handle.
Benz claims that the US State Department tried to ban pro-Modi content by influencing big tech companies like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Twitter (now X). In January 2019, WhatsApp had limited message forwarding.
Not only this, Benz alleges that many other organizations including organizations associated with USAID, along with major international media and digital forensic groups, prepared such a report, in which India was shown to be facing a serious crisis of misinformation.
It is pertinent to mention here that on February 10, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has claimed that the American organisation USAID is funding various organizations to divide India. On Monday in the Lok Sabha, he has demanded that this matter should be investigated and the culprits should be punished. It is expected that with these claims of Benz, the allegations of Nishikant Dubey will now be taken more seriously.
What is USAID?
Under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program, various schemes are running in about 120 countries. In 2023, under the program of this agency, $ 72 billion was given to various countries and institutions.
Recently, US President Donald Trump ordered the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trump administration has accused the agency of misusing American taxpayers' money.
A few days ago, Trump also ordered billionaire Elon Musk to fire thousands of USAID employees. The Trump administration ordered that its programs be shut down worldwide. Elon Musk has described the agency as a criminal organization.
It is alleged that this organization provides financial assistance to Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), a front organization of terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.