The US state department has denied allegations levelled by the BJP that the United States government along with ‘deep state elements’ was trying to destabilise the Indian government . The BJP in a series of tweets on social media platform X had said the investigative journalism group Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) was aiding the Congress party in targeting India and the ruling BJP.
The US State Department on Saturday, December 7 stated that Washington provides support for professional development and capacity building for journalists but does not influence the editorial decisions of the organizations it funds.
"It’s disappointing that the ruling party in India would make these kinds of accusations,” a spokesperson from the state department told Reuters.
The OCCRP also refuted the claims, asserting that it is an independent media organization unaffiliated with any political party. “The US government, while providing some funding to OCCRP, has no say in our editorial processes and no control over our reporting,” the group said in a statement to Reuters.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), the BJP alleged that French investigative media group Mediapart had exposed OCCRP’s funding sources, which include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), billionaire philanthropist George Soros, and the Rockefeller Foundation.
The party has claimed that 50% of OCCRP’s funding comes directly from the US State Department, describing the group as a “media tool for carrying out a deep state agenda.”
The BJP reiterated its long-standing criticism of Soros, accusing the Hungarian-American financier of having “designs to weaken Indian democracy.” The party alleged that “deep state” elements aimed to destabilize India by targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, using OCCRP to produce material damaging to Modi's and India’s reputation.
“These narratives were then exploited by the Congress party to attack PM Modi, spread false stories, and disrupt Parliament,” the BJP stated. It also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of maintaining overseas connections to further this agenda, citing his visits to the US and UK.
The BJP further claimed that recent controversies, such as the Pegasus spyware case, allegations against the Adani Group, the caste census debate, and criticism of India’s press and religious freedoms, were all fueled by “narratives and materials originating from international sources.”