BJP accuses US State Department of efforts to destabilize India, targets Rahul Gandhi

In an unprecedented allegation, India’s ruling BJP has accused the US State Department of orchestrating efforts to destabilize India and target Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The claims, delivered during a press conference by BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, suggest a collusion involving elements of the "US deep state," international organizations, and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

Sambit Patra alleged that the US deep state has aligned with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), certain journalists, and Rahul Gandhi to undermine India’s development. The BJP claims this is being executed through “baseless allegations” against PM Modi and his administration, including reports targeting the Adani Group's alleged ties to the government.

Citing a French investigative report, Patra claimed that OCCRP receives 50% of its funding from the US State Department, as well as financial backing from figures like billionaire George Soros. He asserted that these connections represent a concerted effort to destabilize India, with OCCRP serving as a media tool for these alleged agendas.

The BJP spokesperson accused Rahul Gandhi of collaborating with foreign forces, describing him as a "traitor of the highest order." Patra also called out Gandhi’s meetings with individuals like George Soros and US lawmakers such as Ilhan Omar, who have been critical of PM Modi.

The allegations were echoed in Parliament by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who demanded an investigation into Gandhi’s foreign engagements, accusing the Congress party of conspiring with international forces to derail India’s government due to their animosity toward PM Modi.

The Congress party strongly refuted the allegations, calling them defamatory and inappropriate. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized Dubey’s remarks, claiming they violated parliamentary rules by targeting an individual without prior notice. Tharoor demanded an apology and called for the statements to be expunged from the parliamentary record.

OCCRP acknowledged receiving some funding from the US government but maintained that its operations remain independent and free from political influence. The organization stated that the US government has no control over its editorial decisions or reporting.

As of now, the US State Department has not responded to the BJP’s accusations.

The allegations come as a surprise given the strengthening India-US partnership over the past two decades.