BJP has alleged the Veena Reddy for funding the $21 million and interfere in India voters turnout. Veena Reddy is a former India director for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), who faces allegations. BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani demand the investigation on funding and questioned her role. US President Trump also commented on it and followed criticism. He shows that funds are used to affect Lok Sabha poll results. Trump also told, “I guess they (USAID) were trying to get someone else elected. We have to tell the Indian government.”
Veena Reddy as ex-USAID India chief
Reddy is an Andhra Pradesh-born American diplomat. She joined the USAID’s India office on August 5, 2021. She decide to return to US on July 17, 2024, more than month after Lok sabha elections results were announced. Before she join the US government as a foreign services officer, she was work as a corporate attorney in New York, London, and Los Angeles.
Increase in fund inflow
The funds disbursements for Indian projects by USAID increase during Veena Reddy‘s stint, and jump to over $228 million or Rs 1982 crore in 2022, that is highest mark since 2001.
Out from the $228 million fund for 2022, USAID India spent a total of $140.7 million (or nearly 50%) on Basic Health, $25.09 million on Maternal and Child Health, $10.57 million on HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, $7.186 million on General Environmental Protection and $5.6 million on Energy, according to data.
According to the US Embassy, she was 1st Indian American to lead USAID in India and Bhutan. Before the India assignment, she led USAID’s mission in Cambodia. She also work as the deputy mission head in Haiti and was related to agency. The assistant general counsel covered legal matters for USAID’s programs in Asia, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Read Also: Rekha Gupta Delhi New CM: Build legacy of women chief ministers