BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi raises alarm on foreign interference in India’s affairs
“Ever since India has emerged as a strategic, economic, and diplomatic power under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and with the introduction of the resolution for Viksit Bharat, we have observed increasing foreign activities targeting the economic, moral, and social aspects of our nation over the past three years,” Trivedi told the Rajya Sabha.
Trivedi, however, asserted that such external attempts cannot derail India’s progress. “To those who think they can pull India down, I want to say that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, no foreign interference can affect us. These so-called defenders of democracy will fail,” he said.
Amidst shouting from opposition members, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar permitted Sudhanshu Trivedi to speak.
“This is a very serious issue and we need to have opinions from everyone. We cannot allow the largest democracy to be made dysfunctional by the deep state… This House should be united in neutralising any trend, any initiative that is pernicious, dangerous to our sovereignty,’ Dhankhar said.
Trivedi cited an investigative report by a French publication on the Sarajevo-based Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) to highlight its alleged connections to foreign governments and US businessman and financier George Soros.
“This project is funded by foreign governments, and its focus is on India. Along with this funding, it also has connections with George Soros,” the BJP MP said.
“On February 3, 2021, a report on Indian farmers was published during the Budget Session of January 2021; on July 18, 2021, the Pegasus report emerged during the Monsoon Session of Parliament; on January 24, 2023, the Hindenburg report was released just ahead of the Budget Session, scheduled to begin on January 31; on January 17, 2023, the BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ was launched on July 19, 2023 and a video of the Manipur violence surfaced a day before the Monsoon Session,” he said.
“Even in the current session, which started on November 25… on November 20, a report of a US attorney comes in reference to a business house… Is it just a coincidence that whenever a session of Indian Parliament (is to happen) such issues arrive?” Trivedi wondered.
He said during election campaigns earlier this year, a report on Covid vaccines was published on May 10, 2023.
Alluding to a pattern behind the events over the past three years, Trivedi questioned the timing of these reports and incidents which allegedly coincided with significant political events in India.
“Is this happening knowingly or unknowingly? If unknowingly, come forward and discuss it. But if knowingly, a strict investigation must be conducted. I am not citing isolated incidents; I have presented a consistent sequence spanning three years,” he said.
“For the first time in Indian history, during the recent General Election, the Russian government issued an official statement alleging foreign interference in the elections. This has never happened before,” he said.
