NEW DELHI: The US embassy in New Delhi expressed disappointment on Saturday regarding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) allegations that the US State Department was manipulating media reports against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The embassy emphasized that its role is solely to support independent media through capacity-building training for journalists, without influencing editorial decisions, as reported by The Wire.
On December 5, the BJP utilized its official social media account on X to claim that the State Department orchestrated attacks on Modi and sought to destabilize India. These accusations stemmed from a report by the French investigative outlet, Mediapart, which suggested that the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) received significant funding from the US State Department’s USAID.
Earlier, BJP members in Parliament leveraged the Mediapart report to criticize Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of colluding with the OCCRP and US billionaire George Soros. This narrative extended to social media, where the BJP claimed that the opposition was amplifying investigative reports about the Adani group and the Israeli spyware Pegasus. However, the Mediapart article mainly stated that US government funding targets investigations related to Russia and Venezuela.
A US embassy spokesperson commented, “It’s disappointing that the ruling party in India would make these kinds of accusations.” The spokesperson emphasized that the US government works with independent organizations to offer training for journalists without influencing their editorial choices.
The US embassy also highlighted America’s long-standing commitment to media freedom globally, noting that a free press is essential for democracy. The BJP previously alleged that “50% of OCCRP’s funding comes directly from the US State Department,” characterizing the OCCRP as a tool for a “Deep State agenda” aimed at undermining Modi’s leadership.
Despite these escalating tensions, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not yet commented. Last week, the MEA had responded sharply to Gandhi’s remarks comparing Modi to US President Joe Biden, emphasizing the importance of the US-India partnership, which has been built on mutual respect and cooperation.
Interestingly, the Mediapart name gained notoriety in India due to its investigative reports on the Rafale jet fighter deal, which the Indian government and the BJP had dismissed as baseless. Mediapart’s recent investigations have reignited discussions about corruption allegations tied to the Modi administration, underscoring the complex relationship between media reporting and political narratives in India today.
