National Desk
18 February
Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Polit Bureau Coordinator Prakash Karat has strongly opposed foreign funding in India’s democratic system, calling for a complete ban on such interference. Speaking at the 13th state convention of the CPI-M’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, Karat said, “We do not want foreign organisations to interfere in our democracy. They should be banned.”
His remarks came in response to the US Department of Government Expenditure (DoGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, announcing a funding cut that included a $2.01 million allocation for “voting in India.” Karat criticized such external influence, stressing that India must protect its democratic integrity.
He also condemned the BJP-led central government for failing to take a strict stand on the treatment of Indian deportees from the US. Referring to images of Indians in handcuffs upon their return, he said, “It is unfortunate that our citizens are being treated like this.” He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have raised this issue with the US President during his recent visit.
Despite Modi’s trip, Karat pointed out that two more planes carrying deportees had arrived from the US, yet the situation remained unchanged. “They are citizens, not criminals,” he asserted.