Last week, billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) posted a list of now-cancelled foreign funds on social media, which among other things, included a reference to "$21M for voter turnout in India".

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Whether Musk was aware of the implications of the post or not, it stirred up a political firestorm in India, making the headlines, and sparking bitter exchanges between the ruling Modi government and its political opposition.

The Hindu nationalist BJP, which has long harboured suspicions of foreign influence on national politics, jumped on the DOGE post to allege the existence of some nefarious foreign plot.

While several officials and post-holders of the Modi government labelled the revelations as concerning and warranting a thorough investigation, things blew up again a couple of days back when US President Donald Trump raked up the issue of funds being sent to India.

Speaking at the Governor's Working Session on February 21, Trump, while referring to DOGE's "little list", categorically said, "...And $21 million going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We're giving $21 million for voter turnout in India ... what about us? I want voter turnout too..."

The US President's comments on Friday were immediately seized upon by opposition parties in India, who questioned the Modi government's silence on the comments made by the Prime Minister's 'good friend' Trump.

The political fires in India are yet to be put out.

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