On Monday (February 10), BJP MP Nishikant Dubey stirred a storm in the parliament after he raised the issue of the USAID funding to trusts owned by the Gandhi family and individuals closely affiliated with the Congress, a matter first reported exclusively by OpIndia.
Later taking to X, Dubey tweeted, “Since independence, Congress has only worked to divide the country. Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and many NGOs took money from USAID to benefit anti-national elements. The opposition wants to divide the country.”
आजादी से लेकर अब तक कांग्रेस ने सिर्फ देश को तोड़ने का काम किया है , राजीव गाँधी फाउंडेशन तथा काफ़ी NGO ने USAID से पैसे लेकर देश विरोधी तत्वों को फायदा पहुंचाया, विपक्ष देश तोड़ना चाहते हैं. pic.twitter.com/5JO0dKHa5R
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) February 10, 2025
Speaking in the parliament, Dubey said US President Donald Trump has put an end to the USAID, alleging that the US government agency has primarily spent money for engineering regime changes over the years. Dubey asked if the USAID had funded Rs 5,000 crores to Soros’ Open Society for dividing India.
BJP MP @nishikant_dubey ji blasts Italian family over USAID funding to the trusts owned by them and other individuals closely affiliated with Congress party… pic.twitter.com/htOeNc79rg
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) February 10, 2025
During Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Nishikant Dubey alleged that USAID-funded organizations were involved in protests against the government’s Agniveer initiative, advocated for a caste census, and supported naxalism in India.
His remarks triggered strong objections from Congress members, who attempted to raise a point of order but were prevented by presiding officer Sandhya Ray, who clarified that such rules do not apply during Zero Hour.
Dubey’s assertions in the parliament came months after an investigative report by OpIndia that examined the connections between Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, and various U.S. government entities and foundations through his NGO, the Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI). GKI, co-founded by Pitroda, received funding from organisations such as USAID, the U.S. State Department, and the Rockefeller Foundation. The article highlighted that two of GKI’s co-founders, Nina V. Fedoroff and Sara Farley, had notable connections to the US government and the Rockefeller Foundation, raising concerns about potential influences on Indian political figures, particularly Rahul Gandhi, due to these associations.
Sam Pitroda, a longtime associate of the Gandhi family and Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, has played a key role in organising Rahul Gandhi’s foreign engagements. Though he previously held U.S. citizenship, he renounced it at Indira Gandhi’s insistence and served as an advisor to former Indian PM Manmohan Singh.
In 2009, while advising Singh, Pitroda co-founded the Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI) in the U.S. alongside Nina V. Fedoroff and Sara Farley, both of whom have deep ties to the U.S. government and global foundations.
- Nina V. Fedoroff: Former U.S. Science and Technology Adviser, closely linked to the Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, and Monsanto. She played a significant role in lobbying for genetically modified (GM) crops in India, particularly Bt Brinjal, under the Indo-U.S. Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture.
- Sara Farley: Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Food Initiative, overseeing global food strategies and investments.
In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to clamp down on USAID, it is noteworthy to mention that Pitroda’s NGO, GKI, is funded by USAID, the U.S. State Department, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. USAID, a known instrument of U.S. foreign policy, funds projects that influence governance and economic policies in developing nations.
The investigation suggested the possibility of GKI serving as a channel for U.S. interests in India, particularly in sectors like agriculture and policy-making, raising concerns about foreign influence on Indian governance and decision-making.
