The US Embassy in India has issued a statement countering the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegations regarding the funding and intent behind the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and suggestions of political interference by the US State Department.
What did BJP leaders say and why?
The BJP had claimed that OCCRP, an investigative journalism network, was being used as a tool by the US State Department to destabilize India, particularly by targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The accusations came after OCCRP reported on issues, including the Adani Group, which has been under scrutiny for alleged corruption and close ties to the Indian government.
BJP social media posts and statements from party spokespersons alleged that OCCRP’s funding from US agencies like USAID was part of a broader ‘deep state’ agenda to undermine the Modi government.
The BJP’s claims were further fueled by a French media report that suggested OCCRP received significant funding from USAID, alongside other donors like George Soros, which the BJP labeled as part of the ‘deep state.’ The party’s narrative suggested that these entities were part of an orchestrated effort against Mr. Modi, with the Congress party allegedly using the reports to criticize the government.
US Embassy responds
In response, a spokesperson from the US Embassy called the allegations ‘disappointing,’ emphasizing that the US government has long been a champion of media freedom worldwide.
The embassy’s statement highlighted that while the US supports journalists’ professional development and capacity-building, it does not influence their editorial decisions.
‘We are disappointed that the ruling party in India would make these kinds of accusations,’ the spokesperson remarked, underlining that a free and independent press is a cornerstone of democracy, enabling informed debate.
The response from the US Embassy comes at a time when U.S.-India relations have been on an upward trajectory, with both countries expressing commitments to further strengthen ties despite any occasional diplomatic frictions.