National News

Indian Express Peddles Fake Narrative With Misleading Headline About Govt Of India Giving Money To George Soros-Linked Bodies

December 11, 2024
The Commune

The Indian Express misleads by alleging hypocrisy in Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s stance on George Soros, ignoring that 96% of India’s $32M UNDEF contributions were made during the UPA era, with the BJP slashing funding to $1M.

In February 2023, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar’s sharp rebuke of George Soros—calling him an “old, rich, opinionated, and dangerous” man—grabbed headlines. Soros’s open criticism of PM Modi and his government, coupled with his alleged interference in global narratives through his vast philanthropic empire, has long made him controversial.

Fast forward to December 2024, and certain members of the leftist gang have dug up two Indian Express articles from 2023 to accuse the current central government of “hypocrisy” in its stance toward Soros. However, when one scratches beneath the surface of these articles, it becomes clear that the headlines are misleading and intended to manufacture outrage.

Let’s examine the facts and expose the intellectual dishonesty driving this narrative.

The Indian Express Headlines: Sensational And Misleading

The first article, titled “What is the UN Democracy Fund, co-founded by India, which gives money to George Soros-linked bodies,“ paints a picture of India—including the current BJP-led government—supporting NGOs linked to Soros through contributions to the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF). The second article, “In New Delhi, George Soros is old, dangerous, and on a watchlist — at UN, he isn’t a problem,“ juxtaposes India’s domestic criticism of Soros with its contributions to UNDEF. The implication? Hypocrisy by the Modi government. But here’s what the articles and their critics conveniently leave out:

The Real Numbers: UPA Vs. Modi Government Contributions

India has contributed $32 million to the UN Democracy Fund since its inception in 2005. However, a staggering $31 million—over 96%—was contributed during the UPA government’s tenure. Under the Modi government, India’s contributions have been drastically reduced to about $1 million. This is not conjecture but verifiable data readily available in the public domain and, ironically, within the Indian Express articles themselves.

No Direct Funding To George Soros

Let’s bust another myth. Did India fund George Soros? No. India’s contributions went to the UN Democracy Fund, a global initiative to support democracy through NGOs and civil society organizations. Some of these NGOs also received funding from Soros’s Open Society Foundations (OSF). Blaming the Indian government for indirectly “funding Soros” is akin to saying that India’s humanitarian aid to Turkey during the 2023 earthquake somehow aligned it with Pakistan, which also provided aid to Turkey. It’s an absurd leap in logic.

The Origins Of UNDEF

The UN Democracy Fund was co-founded in 2005 during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure. It was a part of the India-US Global Democracy Initiative, launched alongside the landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement. The fund’s mission to promote democratic governance worldwide was seen as a feather in India’s cap as the world’s largest democracy. At the time, India’s role as a founding member and significant contributor to UNDEF aligned with its global diplomatic priorities.

Fast forward to the Modi government, and contributions to the fund have been drastically scaled back. India’s annual contributions have dipped from $5 million in the UPA years to as little as $50,000 in 2016, with only modest increases in subsequent years. Yet, liberal critics conveniently ignore this stark reduction and pin the blame for “funding Soros” squarely on the BJP.

The Left’s ‘Intellectual‘ Dishonesty

By selectively highlighting snippets from the Indian Express articles, liberal trolls have weaponized the headlines to accuse the Modi government of hypocrisy. This is a textbook example of intellectual dishonesty. Here’s what they refuse to acknowledge:

India’s UNDEF Contributions Predate Modi: The lion’s share of contributions—$31 million—was made under the UPA government. Modi’s administration has significantly reduced these contributions.

There is no direct link between India and Soros. India’s contributions were to the UN, not Soros. The fact that some NGOs receiving UNDEF funds also received OSF grants is incidental and does not imply complicity.

Domestic and Global Diplomacy Can Diverge: It’s consistent with India opposing Soros’s meddling in domestic affairs while supporting UNDEF’s broader mission. Diplomacy often involves navigating complex and contradictory realities.

Manufactured Outrage Of Leftists

The liberal ecosystem’s attempts to smear the Modi government with these articles reveal their desperation. They ignore the inconvenient truths buried within the articles by taking the sensational headlines at face value. The result? A narrative designed to mislead and confuse the public.

If there is any hypocrisy here, it lies with those who supported massive UNDEF contributions during the UPA era but now attack the Modi government for the same fund’s indirect links to Soros. Where was this outrage when $31 million was flowing into UNDEF under Congress’s watch? Why are these critics silent on the fact that India’s contributions have been slashed under Modi?

The truth is plain to see. India’s contributions to the UN Democracy Fund were overwhelmingly made during the UPA years. The Modi government reduced these contributions and took a tough stance against foreign-funded NGOs, including those linked to George Soros. The attempt to paint the current government as hypocritical is a classic case of selective outrage and half-truths.

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