Behind the Curtain: The U.S. Deep State’s Plot to Weaken Modi and Shape India’s Future

From Bangladesh to India: How Foreign Influence and a Fractured Opposition are Challenging Modi's Leadership

Sep 22, 2024

“The surprising thing is that the so called defenders of democracy like US and Europe seem to just be oblivious of the fact that a huge chunk of the democratic model has come undone in India. While the opposition is fighting that battle, US and Europe are not doing enough to restore the democracy in India.” - Rahul Gandhi

This comment is made by Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the Chatham House in London on March 6, 2023. In a discussion on India's democratic backsliding, Gandhi insinuated that the West, particularly the US and Europe, should intervene in India's internal affairs to safeguard democracy. His statement sparked outrage in India, where many viewed it as a call for foreign interference in domestic politics.

Just a month ago, Bangladesh witnessed a significant political upheaval that sent shockwaves across South Asia. The coup, led by Islamist factions, was widely believed to be a domestic struggle for power. However, upon closer scrutiny, it becomes evident that the U.S. deep state had vested interests in this coup, similar to their previous political manipulations in the region.

Old WikiLeaks cables have unveiled connections between the U.S. government and Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate, suggesting that the coup had external backing from powerful forces in Washington.

Muhammad Yunus, a figure previously known for his role in economic development through microcredit, surprisingly emerged as a political force in Bangladesh during the period of political instability. Though Yunus was a political outsider, the WikiLeaks revelations indicate that he had long been in the orbit of the U.S. deep state. The cables show that America played a significant role in helping Yunus establish the Grameen Bank, turning him into a trusted asset for the U.S. government. More startlingly, Yunus had expressed ambitions to lead a country, despite his political inexperience.1 2

**Source** : **https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09DHAKA469_a.html**

Unrest in Bangladesh: Rise of Jamaat-e-Islami and interests of US Deep State

Aravind Sivaprasad

August 6, 2024

Read full story

When the Islamist factions executed the coup in Bangladesh, many were taken aback when Yunus, a man with no political background, was positioned as the caretaker of the government. The move seemed out of place—until you consider the deep-rooted ties Yunus had to Washington. The U.S. deep state’s involvement in destabilizing regimes in favor of their strategic allies is a playbook they’ve used before, and Bangladesh was just the latest example.

Coming to India, we saw some Congress leaders saying that India could see events similar to Bangladesh’s political upheavals, in the near future against Modi government. They didn’t utter a word, condemning the ongoing human-right violations against Hindus and other minorities, in Bangladesh. But they openly said that its time to overthrow the Narendra Modi govt, inspired by the rioters in Bangladesh. These statements must be taken seriously rather than considering it as a usual rubbishness from Congress party.

A key figure in this unfolding drama is Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, known for his history of meddling in foreign political affairs. Lu’s tenure has been marked by accusations of orchestrating regime changes, particularly in South Asia.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had publicly accused Lu of pushing for his removal from power. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also implicated the US diplomat in efforts to destabilize her government. Hasina also claimed that Lu had visited her with demands to set up a US military base in Bangladesh, and when she refused, her administration became the target of internal unrest. Given this history, it’s not unreasonable to speculate that Lu’s visit to India in the run-up to the 2024 elections might have similar implications.

Donald Lu made a sudden visit to India when the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 were in full swing. Interestingly, he didn’t land in the National Capital, New Delhi but he visited Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, where Dravidian parties hold sway and the BJP is in a weak position. His official reason for the visit was to "strengthen bilateral relations with South India”. The north-south divide has long been a tool used by certain factions in Indian politics. The leaders of the DMK party had have historically raised demands for greater autonomy, and at times, even floated the idea of a separate 'Dravida Nadu.

Rahul Gandhi himself has made statements suggesting that India is not a nation but rather a union of states, a view that feeds into secessionist tendencies. Lu’s engagement with South India, in this context, could be viewed as an attempt to exploit regional divisions to weaken Modi's hold on power.

There are more serious signs of an American intervention in the recent general elections, as Rahul Gandhi wished for.

US govt agency’s “Empowering Media Savvy Youth” programme in India

The most telling sign of external interference came when grants.gov, a U.S. government initiative, allocated $200,000 to fund fact-checking organizations in India between April and June 2024—right in the midst of India’s election season. The U.S. State Department said that their aim is to counter “disinformation” in India, citing concerns about societal polarization and its potential impact on U.S.-India relations. The target audience? India’s youth, who form a significant portion of the electorate and heavily rely on social media for news consumption.

On May 2024, A report published by Open AI revealed that an Israeli firm generated anti-BJP content despite India's close relationship with Israel. The same firm had also tried to spread anti-Hamas, anti-Qatar, pro-Israel and pro-Histadrut content across the internet. The firm’s efforts to promote opposition narratives, particularly favorable to Congress, seem contradictory to their patriotism towards Israel, especially given Congress’s pro-Palestine stance. Considering these factors, it’s not wrong to conclude that this attempt was made by an Israeli firm with American influence.

Read OpenAI's report

The US Embassy also backed anti Modi brigades in India. On 17th July, the US Embassy in India informed about its event for Indian social media influences and content creators to learn about boosting social media engagement on social issues and learn about “active citizenship”.

However, for this “Influence to Impact” event, the US Embassy chose the YouTuber “DeshBhakt” Akash Banerjee who is known for peddling leftist and anti-BJP agendas.

These actions align with previous revelations by America First Legal (AFL) about the U.S. State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) collaboration with private media outlets to control media narratives, often to the benefit of U.S. geopolitical objectives. AFL exposed how the GEC had previously worked with fact-checkers linked to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), funded by George Soros and other left leaning groups, to push deep-state agendas in global media.

Read report

George Soros has a close relationship with Indian National Congress party members. It dates back to familial ties and political alignments. Braj Kumar Nehru, a diplomat and relative of Jawaharlal Nehru, was married to Magdolna Friedman, a Hungarian who happened to be a friend of Soros. This friendship was evident when Soros chartered a flight to visit Magdolna in 2008, demonstrating the close bond they shared. Moreover, in 1994, Soros founded the Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific (FDL-AP), an organization aimed at promoting “democracy” in the region. Sonia Gandhi, the then-leader of the Congress party, served as Co-President of this Soros-backed initiative. One of the main aims of FDL-AP, is to create an independent Kashmir.

Ahead of the current Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir, United States diplomats, including Minister-Counsellor for Political Affairs Graham Mayer and First Secretary Gary Applegarth, met National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah. National Conference party, allied with Indian National Congress aims to reintroduce the abrogated Article 370 provisions back in Kashmir

Article 370, a provision that give greater autonomy to Kashmir was revoked by Modi government in 2019, in order to integrate the state closer with India. Article 370 in Kashmir were undoubtedly a loophole in India’s national security as Pakistan funded terrorist groups were able to easily invade into the territory due to lack of Indian govt’s oversight in the area. The abrogation, lead to rapid normalisation of citizen life in Kashmir. The below data shows the militant activities in Kashmir before and after the removal of Article 370. After the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 ,2019, Militant activities have gradually reduced.

The US diplomat’s meetings are not limited in Kashmir .Jennifer Larson, the U.S. Consul General in Hyderabad met with several opposition leaders, including Revanth Reddy, and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi while Modi was in Moscow. These meetings, combined with the U.S. fact-checking initiatives and support for influencers critical of the BJP, painted a picture of a foreign power deeply invested in shaping India’s political narrative.

Khalistani Separatism and US Protection

Another factor complicating the relationship between the Modi government and the US is Washington’s handling of Khalistani separatists.

“The fight is about whether he, as a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India or whether he is going to be allowed to wear a Kara in India or whether a Sikh is going to be able to go to the Gurudwara. That’s what the fight is about, and not just for him, for all religions.” - Rahul Gandhi

Just recently, the controversial pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) endorsed Rahul Gandhi for his remarks at a public meeting in Washington, DC. This group, which advocates for an independent Sikh state, has been involved in committing several crimes and for making call for violence. SFJ is banned in India as per provisions of UAPA act since 2019. While the initial ban was for five years, ended July this year, the govt extended the ban for another 5 years.

The leader of SFJ, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is an American-Canadian citizen. Despite his repeated threats to Indian diplomats and his calls for violence, he has largely evaded serious legal consequences in the US and Canada. Pannun has even gone so far as to threaten bombings on Air India planes, threaten to attack Indian parliament in videos posted online, yet neither American nor Canadian authorities have arrested him.

Pannun has been booked in 22 cases in Punjab from 2017 to 2022. In 2020, Indian government designated him as terrorist under the UAPA act. Pannun continue to operate the Khalistani movement, staying safe in America.

This leniency has raised serious concerns about whether the US is protecting figures who could destabilize India. In 2023, two high-profile assassination plots involving Khalistani separatists occurred on foreign soil. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent pro-Khalistan figure, was shot and killed in Canada, and an assassination attempt was made on Pannun in the US. While it remains unclear if the Indian government was involved, these incidents have fueled the perception that India is being targeted by violent actors with tacit support from Western governments.

This also raise questions about the 2021 “Farmers” protests in India .In a startling revelation in March 2024, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claimed that his group had funneled $16 million to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The protests, initially seen as a mass movement by farmers against “controversial” agricultural reforms, were largely centered in Punjab, a state governed by AAP. What seemed like a grassroots protest quickly became controversial due to the participation of protestors driving luxury tractors, including those made by Mercedes Benz, which hardly represented the plight of an impoverished farming community. Moreover, in January 2021, these so-called farmers stormed the Red Fort, a symbol of India’s sovereignty, and hoisted the Khalistani flag, further fueling speculation about the true motivations behind the protests.

With Pannun’s statement about Khalistani funding to AAP, it is now being questioned whether the farmers' protests were more than they seemed. The involvement of Khalistani elements and the use of separatist symbols suggest that the movement may have been, at least in part, a vehicle for advancing a separatist agenda under the guise of farmers' rights.

Further, allegations have emerged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, leader of AAP, offered to release Devinder Singh Bhullar—convicted for a 1993 bomb attack—as part of a deal with Khalistani groups. This raises serious questions about the true nature of AAP’s alliances and the role of external funding in India’s internal unrest.

The US government’s reaction to the farmers' protests in India was telling. In 2021, the Biden administration urged the Modi government to engage in dialogue with the protesting farmers, framing it as an issue of human rights and civil liberties.

However, what stands out is the glaring double standard. From 2023 to 2024, Germany witnessed massive farmers' protests, primarily due to agricultural policies and environmental regulations imposed by the European Union. These protests were widespread, but unlike the situation in India, there was no public reaction from the US government urging their ally to engage in dialogue with its farmers.

Even more curious was the intervention of pop star Rihanna, who tweeted in support of the Indian farmers’ protests. Her tweet sparked global attention, yet she remained silent on the German protests. This raises the question: Why does America, and by extension Western influencers, show interest in India’s internal issues but not in similar protests elsewhere?

For years, the U.S. was rumored to have supported Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a potential counterforce to Modi’s BJP. Kejriwal’s populist agenda and anti-establishment rhetoric were seen as appealing to certain U.S. interests that preferred a fragmented political landscape in India. However, Kejriwal’s arrest in March 2024 over the Delhi liquor scam sent shockwaves through the Indian political scene. Shortly after, both the U.S. and Germany publicly condemned his arrest, raising questions about the state of democracy in India.

Following this incident, something curious happened in India’s media landscape. A well-known pro-AAP supporter and social media influencer, Dhruv Rathee, saw a sudden surge in popularity. Rathee’s anti-Modi content, previously popular among certain segments, was now being amplified across social media platforms like YouTube. This coincided with the pre-election period, and the timing of his rise seemed suspicious to many. Rathee’s content, along with that of other Modi critics, began to dominate digital spaces, with narratives pushing the idea that Modi’s re-election would turn India into a dictatorship akin to Russia or North Korea.

Considering Google’s left leaning approach(as we discussed in the “Wikipedia-The encyclopedia of Left Propagandas”) and instances of US government interference on platforms like Meta, it’s not wrong to assume that an algorithm tweak took place during election period

U.S. Displeasures with Modi government

America is unhappy with the Modi government in India. This displeasure is fuelled by various factors - Modi’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war, Alleged assassination attempt on a Khalistani terrorist by RAW agent on U.S soil etc.

Frankly speaking, US is unhappy with having a stable government

The below statement from President of NED, reflects America’s foreign policy

“Adversaries such as China and Russia have gained ground and room for maneuver as the US-built, rules-based international order has frayed. Allies in Europe and Asia have learned to hedge against a potentially unreliable or ambivalent United States. And developing nations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America have become more capable and confident in pursuing their interests.”
- Damon Wilson (President of National Endowment for Democracy)

National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a private nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports the development of “democratic institutions” around the world. Though formally private, the NED is almost entirely funded by the U.S. Congress.

According to Influence Watch’s Criticism Page on NED ,“Both domestic and foreign sources have claimed that the National Endowment for Democracy is a tool of the U.S. government used to undermine foreign governments considered hostile to American interests. According to the Chinese government, the NED “has subverted lawful governments and cultivated pro-U.S. puppet forces around the world under the pretext of promoting democracy,” and should be considered a “second CIA.” The NED was allegedly active in the fall of the Soviet Union, the Georgian “Rose Revolution,” the Ukrainian “Orange Revolution,” the Arab Spring, and Hong Kong’s pro-independence movement”.

The NED, is often described as the “white gloves” of the US government, has a long history of subverting state power in other countries. It meddles in internal affairs, incites division and confrontation, manipulates public opinion, and engages in ideological infiltration—all under the noble pretext of promoting democracy.

India has increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of NED, under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Through its funding of the Journal of Democracy, NED has been instrumental in shaping international narratives about the state of democracy in India. In July 2023, the Journal published a series of articles criticising India’s democratic trajectory under Modi, suggesting that the country’s democracy was in decline. By April 2024, the rhetoric escalated, with articles arguing that India’s pluralistic, secular democracy was at risk if Modi secured a third consecutive term.

In 2016, the Indian government placed NED on a watch list, citing violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

The Objective: Weaken Modi and Empower a Fractured Opposition

The ultimate goal of these efforts was not necessarily to defeat Modi outright—most analysts agreed that Modi’s return to power in 2024 was inevitable. Instead, the focus seemed to be on weakening Modi’s hold on power by fostering a more fractured opposition. The election results in 2024 were indeed surprising: while Modi and the BJP won, they got less seats than in 2019. The fractured opposition’s I.N.D.I alliance managed to secure 232 seats out of 563, far more than anticipated.

The U.S. deep state’s interest in seeing a weakened BJP government with a stronger opposition aligns with its broader objectives. A fractured opposition in India would make it easier for the U.S. to negotiate on terms more favorable to Washington, particularly on critical issues like Russia and China. By promoting opposition narratives and amplifying anti-Modi influencers, the U.S. deep state may have succeeded in creating a more pliable political environment in India, even without toppling Modi outright.

Conclusion: An International Lobby to Weaken Modi?

Various countries are dissapointed with the Modi government in India. India’s main adversary Pakistan had openly supported Congress party. Iran has been using social media toolkits to defame Modi, and spread Hinduphobic narratives. Turkey who is supporting Pakistan in Kashmir issue, had been sought help by Popular Front of India(PFI) to create Islamic state in India by 2047.

Modi govt has been effective in cracking down on NGOS and radical groups that compromise national interests. The question now is how India will navigate these external pressures in the coming years and whether Modi’s government can keep on withstanding the continued influence of foreign actors seeking to reshape India’s political landscape.