Chicago – December 07, 2024
The United States has rejected the BJP’s claims that organizations funded by the US State Department and elements of the “deep state” are working to destabilize India.
The allegations on Saturday suggest that these groups are behind attacks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani. A US Embassy spokesperson called the accusations “disappointing” and emphasized that the US government supports media freedom globally.
The BJP had accused the US deep state of collaborating with the media group OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to harm India’s image. They pointed to Gandhi’s use of OCCRP reports to criticize the Adani Group, accusing it of having ties to the government.
The US Embassy spokesperson clarified that the US supports independent media organizations but does not influence their editorial choices. OCCRP, based in Amsterdam, focuses on exposing crime and corruption. The US official also reaffirmed that a free press is crucial for democracy.
Recently, US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and his nephew with paying bribes to Indian officials for favorable solar energy contracts, leading to calls for a full investigation.
