Why top US award recipient George Soros is a controversial figure in India

George Soros is not only a controversial figure in the US but also in India, with EAM S Jaishankar calling him “old, rich and dangerous."

Updated on: Jan 5, 2025, 19:46:37 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Ria Amol Wadikar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

George Soros, along with 18 others, received the highest civilian award in the United States - the medal of freedom - on Sunday from outgoing president Joe Biden.

George Soros, founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundations, was awarded the US medal of freedom (AP)

The decision generated massive outrage among supporters of president-elect Donald Trump, inviting comments from Elon Musk, Donald Trump Jr, and JD Vance.

Also Read: ‘Sonia Gandhi linked to George Soros-funded group supporting Kashmir independence’: BJP

Soros is not only a controversial figure in the US but also in India, with Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar, calling him “old, rich and dangerous."

George Soros had not only been an outspoken critic of PM Modi, but is also accused of supporting “the idea of an independent Kashmir” through his organisation, Open Society Foundation.

Soros vs Adani

In February 2023, George Soros addressed the Munich Security Conference and during his speech said that allying with business tycoon Adani, in the aftermath of the first Hindenburg report could “significantly weaken Modi’s stranglehold on India’s federal government”, reported The Financial Times.

Also Read: 'George Soros targeting India', JP Nadda claims Congress speaking his language

Union women and child development minister at the time, Smriti Irani, said that Soros sought to hurt “India's democratic structure” and was targeting PM Modi so he could protest his own interests.

Also Read: BJP intensifies attack over Cong links to Soros, Oppn hits back

“India has always defeated foreign powers whenever it was challenged and will continue to defeat them in the future too,” she added.

After a report was released by the non-profit Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the Adani Group, dismissed their claims stating that George Soros was a financial backer for the group and was using the report as a means to bolster Hindenburg's claims, reported CNN.

Allegations against Congress

On December 10, 2024, during a debate in parliament, addressed George Soros as an issue of national security and accused Congress' Sonia Gandhi of working with the US 'deep-state' along with Soros.

"This association between Sonia Gandhi and an organisation that has backed the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation expresses the influence of foreign entities on India's internal affairs and the political impact of such connections,” PTI quoted the party as saying.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote on X, “Congress is hand in glove with George Soros, did Soros pay for Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra or not, Soros paid for 1000 Indian children to study abroad, and how many of them are children of Congress leaders?"

The BJP on social media platform X allegedly also shared pictures where they replaced images of Babasaheb Ambedkar on the Congress' placards and put George Soros on them.

Congress leader KC Venugopal said, “The BJP is brazen in its insult and ridicule of Dr. Ambedkar. Is standing up for Dr. Ambedkar against the insult to him a matter of joke for the BJP?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.