U.S. Dismisses BJP’s Allegations of Targeting PM Modi and Gautam Adani as “Disappointing”
The United States has powerfully rejected claims by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the U.S. State Department is plotting attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business magnate Gautam Adani. On December 7, 2024, while responding to these allegations, the U.S. branded the accusations "disappointing" and reiterated its commitment towards freedom of the press globally.
Reaction from the U.S.
In response to a series of posts by the BJP on social media platform X, including claims about U.S. involvement with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said: It is disappointing that the ruling party in India is making such allegations. The United States has long been a champion of media freedom around the globe. An independent press is the very foundation of any democracy, permitting informed debate and holding those in power accountable.
It stated that funding organizations like OCCRP didn't mean to say it funds them. Rather, independent organizations are where the United States supports training programs for journalists, which cannot affect editorial decisions of those organizations.
Claims made by BJP regarding U.S.
The BJP alleged that the U.S. State Department funded reports by OCCRP that linked PM Modi and Adani to controversies, including projects in Kenya and Myanmar. The party also pointed to reports on Pegasus spyware and Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a broader agenda to harm India's image. BJP leaders claimed that such stories were designed to target Modi and Adani, accusing the U.S. of playing a role in these narratives.
For the first time, the BJP directly blames the U.S. government for stories critical of the Modi administration, claiming that these reports have damaged India's global reputation. However, the U.S. maintained that it does not interfere in the editorial decisions of media outlets and continues to support a free and independent press globally.
