(MENAFN- Live Mint) After US President Donald Trump once again raised concerns over the alleged allocation of USD 21 million by the US government for voter turnout in India, labelling it a“kickback scheme,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the funds of being used to support“deep state assets” in India and called for an investigation into the matter.

Also Read: 'Who this money was given to...,' How USAID's ex-India Chief Veena Reddy landed in $21 million funding row

Trump has also highlighted similar funding amounts for political initiatives in Bangladesh and biodiversity projects in Nepal.

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Addressing the Republican Governors Association (RGA) meeting, Trump said,“And USD 21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems. We want our own turnout, don't we? Can you imagine all that money going to India? I wonder what they think when they get it. Now, it's a kickback scheme. You know, it's not like they get it and they spend, they kick it back to the people that send it. I would say in many cases, many of these cases, anytime you have no idea what we're talking about, that means there's a kickback because nobody has any idea what's going on there. USD 29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. Nobody knows what they mean by political landscape. What does that mean?”

Also Read: Who is Veena Reddy? Ex-USAID India chief under radar over $21 million voter turnout fun

“USD 20 million for fiscal federalism and USD 19 million for biodiversity in Nepal, USD 47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia. What the hell do I care about? We got a lot. We got enough problems and all of this is terminated. We terminated this stuff and we're on the track. And by the way, there were so many others I could have I could read all night long, but so many were so terrible, and were actually disgusting. And I know you're eating your dinner, so I didn't want to do that but we're draining the swamp,” he added.

We got a lot. We got enough problems and all of this is terminated.

(This is a developing story)

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