BJP-Congress Spar Over US Aid Cut, Ex-USAID India Chief Veena Reddy’s Role Questioned

New Delhi- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have locked horns over former US President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) decision to cut $21 million in aid meant for “boosting voter turnout” in India. While Congress dismissed Trump’s remarks as “nonsensical,” the BJP claimed that his statements confirmed foreign interference in Indian elections.

The controversy has also brought Veena Reddy, former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) director in India, under scrutiny. The BJP has raised concerns over her role in the USAID funding.

Who is Veena Reddy?
Veena Reddy, an Andhra-born American diplomat, is a Foreign Service Officer with USAID and is currently serving as Mission Director in Cambodia. She previously held key positions in India, Pakistan, Haiti, and Afghanistan. Reddy was USAID’s Mission Director for India and Bhutan from 2021 to 2024. Before joining USAID, she worked as a corporate attorney in New York and Los Angeles and holds a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University School of Law.

US Aid Controversy
The row erupted after Trump accused the Joe Biden administration of attempting to influence Indian elections through USAID’s $21 million grant. Trump questioned the necessity of such funding, alleging that it was meant to “get someone else elected.” However, the US government has yet to clarify which Indian entities, if any, received the funds.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that USAID sanctioned $21 million for Bangladesh in 2022, with $13.4 million already disbursed. The issue has fueled political tensions in India, with the BJP demanding accountability and Congress downplaying the allegations.