Why did ED raid an organization linked to George Soros in Bengaluru?
#News Bureau March 18,2025
The ED raided eight places in Bengaluru on Tuesday. This includes the premises of the Open Society Foundation (OSF), backed by American billionaire George Soros. This action is being taken as part of the investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). This incident not only points to financial irregularities, but also highlights the issues of foreign funding and political controversy in India. This is also an issue of political controversy because Soros has repeatedly criticized the Modi government and the BJP has been constantly attacking George Soros by linking him to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
Before knowing the reasons for the political controversy, let us know why this action of ED raid has been taken. The Indian Express has reported, quoting sources, that the Home Ministry had put OSF in the ‘Prior Reference Category’ in 2016, which prevented it from giving funds in India without government permission. But it is alleged that OSF, through its subsidiaries in India, brought in funds in the form of foreign direct investment and consultancy fees and gave the same to several NGOs, which according to the ED is a violation of FEMA law.
This OSF is an organization supported by George Soros, who has criticized the Modi government on several occasions. In February 2023, George Soros targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Munich Security Conference. Referring to Gautam Adani and the Hindenburg Report, he said that ‘Modi is not a democratic leader and the Adani case can open the door to the return of democracy in India.’
After this, many ministers of the central government described Soros as a person with an anti-India agenda and supporting foreign powers. In such a situation, the question arises whether this action of ED is only an investigation into the violation of foreign funding rules, or is it also an action related to political rhetoric?
In fact, the Open Society Foundation provides financial assistance to promote democracy, human rights and social justice around the world. But in India, the government’s strictness has been seen many times regarding foreign funding. In the last few years, the government has also tightened its grip on Amnesty International, Greenpeace and many other international organizations.
The Modi government has been saying that no foreign entity can be allowed to send irregular money to India, especially if the money is used to bring about social and political change. According to the government, investigation into OSF’s funding pattern was necessary because it could try to influence policy and ideology in India.
Opposition parties have been viewing such actions as political vendetta. Congress and other opposition parties have been constantly saying that the government is targeting those institutions which have different views from the ruling party.
Let us tell you that while Rahul Gandhi is attacking PM Modi and Adani, BJP has been alleging that Rahul Gandhi is part of a triangle with billionaire George Soros and news portal Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project i.e. OCCRP. It is also alleged that its purpose is to destabilize India. So the question is who is George Soros and why are such reactions coming?
Who is George Soros?
George Soros is one of the richest people in the world. He is originally from Hungary, but during the Second World War he had to leave his country Hungary. He reached London in 1947 and from here he studied philosophy at the London School of Economics. Later he moved to America. He is a very big investor. But before becoming a billionaire, Soros has faced a lot of intolerance. Born in Hungary in 1930, Soros somehow kept himself alive during the Nazi occupation of 1944-1945. The Nazi occupation led to the murder of more than 500,000 Hungarian Jews. George Soros’ website claims that his own Jewish family survived by obtaining false identification papers, hiding their history and helping others do the same.
Opposition parties have been viewing such actions as political vendetta. Congress and other opposition parties have been constantly saying that the government is targeting those institutions which have different views from the ruling party.
Let us tell you that while Rahul Gandhi is attacking PM Modi and Adani, BJP has been alleging that Rahul Gandhi is part of a triangle with billionaire George Soros and news portal Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project i.e. OCCRP. It is also alleged that its purpose is to destabilize India. So the question is who is George Soros and why are such reactions coming?
Who is George Soros?
George Soros is one of the richest people in the world. He is originally from Hungary, but during the Second World War he had to leave his country Hungary. He reached London in 1947 and from here he studied philosophy at the London School of Economics. Later he moved to America. He is a very big investor. But before becoming a billionaire, Soros has faced a lot of intolerance. Born in Hungary in 1930, Soros somehow kept himself alive during the Nazi occupation of 1944-1945. The Nazi occupation led to the murder of more than 500,000 Hungarian Jews. George Soros’ website claims that his own Jewish family survived by obtaining false identification papers, hiding their history and helping others do the same.
The Communists consolidated power in Hungary after World War II, but Soros left Budapest in 1947 for London. There he worked part-time as a railway porter and as a night-club waiter while continuing his studies at the London School of Economics. In 1956 he moved to the United States, entering the world of finance and investment. It was there that he made his fortune.
In 1973 he launched his own hedge fund, Soros Fund Management, and became one of the most successful investors in United States history.
Soros began his charity in 1979 by offering scholarships to black South Africans in the wake of apartheid. In the 1980s he helped promote the open exchange of ideas in communist Hungary by funding Western academic visits and supporting independent cultural groups and other initiatives.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, he created Central European University as a major venue for promoting the right to marriage. He became a vocal supporter of gay marriage efforts.
He is the founder and major funder of Central European University in Budapest, a leading regional center for the study of social sciences. Under his leadership, the Open Society Foundations have supported people and organizations around the world who fight for freedom of expression, accountable government, and societies that promote justice and equality, according to the George Soros website.
In 2017, the Open Society Foundations announced that Soros had transferred $18 billion of his wealth to fund the foundation’s future work, bringing his total donations to the foundation since 1984 to more than $32 billion.
However, Soros has also been in controversies. According to Forbes report, on 16 September 1992, a huge decline was recorded in the British currency pound. George Soros was believed to be behind this. Due to this, he is also called the person who broke the British pound.
Soros has also given controversial statements about Kashmir. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros had said that nationalism is increasing rapidly in the world and its most dangerous result has been seen in India where democratically elected leader Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist country. He had said that he is imposing strict restrictions on Kashmir. He also accused PM Modi that he is taking away the citizenship of millions of Muslims. After this statement of his, Soros has been continuously in the headlines in India and BJP has been making various allegations against Rahul Gandhi by linking his name with Soros.
