New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has expressed concern over revelations regarding USAID funding for activities in India, stating that the government is examining the matter. Speaking at an event in New Delhi on Saturday, he said the information shared by figures from the Trump administration was "concerning" and suggested that certain activities were being conducted in "bad faith."

USAID's role in India under scrutiny
Jaishankar noted that USAID was allowed to operate in India "in good faith, to do good faith activities." However, he pointed to recent claims from the United States indicating otherwise. "If there is something to it, I think the country should know who are the people involved in the bad faith activities," he said.

He also underscored the evolving nature of security threats, highlighting the role of technology, NGOs, and rankings in shaping narratives. "Security is also about how your thought processes are influenced, how narratives are set, how facts are presented to you, how your mind is moulded without you even knowing it," he said.

Jaishankar warned that external forces could influence public perception, stating, "Your security can be threatened without leaving your house, because the thought processes, the influences, the narratives, your morale, your sense of what is right and wrong is all influenced by your phone, what you read every day, the pictures you see."

Government investigating claims of foreign interference
The interaction, moderated by Sanjeev Sanyal of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, was part of the DU Literature Festival at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). Sanyal asked about the USAID issue, which has been in the spotlight.

Jaishankar said the government was looking into the matter, adding that USAID and similar organisations had an obligation to report their activities. "My sense is, the facts will come out," he stated.

The controversy follows US President Donald Trump's remarks in Miami on Thursday, where he questioned USAID's USD 21 million funding for voter turnout in India, suggesting it may have been intended to influence election outcomes.

On Friday, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the revelations as "deeply troubling," expressing concerns over potential foreign interference. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that "relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter."

With PTI inputs