George Soros and desi politics: Why a Hungarian billionaire dominated headlines in 2024

In 2024, Soros’ name dominated headlines in India and disrupted parliamentary proceedings.

George Soros may not be an Indian politician, but observers of Indian politics found his name splashed across headlines throughout the year.

Soros has faced criticism worldwide for allegedly interfering in the internal affairs of countires and destabilizing economies. However, when it comes to India, the 94-year-old has faced an insurmountable challenge. The Hungarian-born billionaire turned into a highly controversial figure with BJP using his name to attack the Congress.

The BJP-led government accused the Congress-led Opposition of pushing Soros’ agenda to destabilize the country. For over a week in December, Parliament was at a standstill as heated exchanges flew between the two sides, each accusing the other of undermining national interests.

READ: Hindenburg row: Who is George Soros and why does BJP often link the billionaire to Congress?

The BJP alleged a global conspiracy to destabilize India, with Soros at its center. They claimed he was working behind the scenes and targeted Sonia Gandhi for her alleged links to organizations associated with Soros. BJP MP Sambit Patra described these connections as a “sinister triangular nexus” involving Soros, Congress leaders, and groups like the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which he said aimed to weaken India’s economy and democracy.

Congress leaders dismissed these allegations. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sonia’s daughter, called them a distraction from the Adani bribery "scandal". Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate pointed out that the Indian government itself had contributed to the UN Democracy Fund, which supports some of Soros’ initiatives.

So, how did Soros become such a polarizing figure in Indian politics?

Soros has openly criticized PM Modi and expressed his desire to "see Indian democracy thrive" by challenging the current regime. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on February 17, 2023, Soros linked PM Modi and Gautam Adani in a way that questioned the state of Indian democracy. His comments sparked outrage, especially as he suggested that allegations by the US-based Hindenburg Research against the industrialist could hurt investor confidence in India and weaken Modi’s grip on power.

In December 2024, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged all political parties, including Congress, to unite against any forces working against India. The Congress, however, viewed this as an attempt to deflect attention from the Adani bribery allegations that had already caused turmoil in Parliament.

In response, the BJP doubled down on its attack against Sonia Gandhi. It alleged that she was associated with organizations funded by Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF), which, according to the BJP, has supported the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey even suggested that Soros’ financial resources might have indirectly supported Congress campaigns and Rahul Gandhi’s political activities.

One focal point of the BJP’s claims was Sonia Gandhi’s role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific (FDL-AP), which they alleged received funding from OSF. They also pointed to a supposed partnership between the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, and Soros-backed entities. To bolster their claims, the BJP circulated images of Salil Shetty, vice-president of OSF, participating in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, hinting at deeper ties between Congress and Soros’ network.