India-U.S. Relations Tested as BJP Alleges Deep State Involvement in Media Reports

India’s ruling political party Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the U.S. State Department and “deep state” entities of collaborating with billionaire George Soros to destabilize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The allegations also implicate opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and investigative journalists in the alleged conspiracy.

“The Deep State had a clear objective to destabilize India by targeting Prime Minister Modi,” the BJP said in a series of messages on X.

Reuters reported that Sambit Patra BJP national spokesperson and lawmaker, repeated the accusations at an official media briefing by the party on Thursday. “A French investigative media group…has revealed that… 50% of OCCRP’s funding comes directly from the U.S. State Department,” Patra said. “OCCRP has served as a media tool for carrying out a deep state agenda.”

The controversy is around the reports from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project about alleged financial irregularities involving Modi’s close ally, industrialist Gautam Adani. The BJP claims OCCRP is funded by U.S.-linked organizations and Soros to tarnish India’s global reputation.

But OCCRP has denied these claims of BJP. Rahul Gandhi also dismissed the claims by BJP. He said this is new propaganda of the BJP to divert public attention from economic and political issues of ndia. 

This issue from India is raising broader questions about international funding in media. And it can also be an alarming sign for Indian-US relations, as they are partners and share a part in economies of nations through trade, innovation, etc.