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A partly declassified CIA document reveals the depth of the USSR's communist propaganda lobby in India for more than three decades.
A Russian agency declared India as the model of KGB infiltration of a Third World government.
A Russian agency declared India as the model of KGB infiltration of a Third World government.
"As many as 40% of the Congress-I MPs in Mrs. Gandhi's government had recieved Soviet political contributions"
"Many Congress-I politicians are also businessmen that trade with the USSR"
"Soviet officials large reserve of rupees for clandestine cash payments to CPI and CPI/M
"Many Congress-I politicians are also businessmen that trade with the USSR"
"Soviet officials large reserve of rupees for clandestine cash payments to CPI and CPI/M
members as well as to non-communist opposition party politicians.”
The CPI was funded in many ways, including transfer of money through car windows on Delhi roads.
Indira Gandhi, codenamed VANO by the KGB,was sent suitcases of money meant for the Congress coffers.
The CPI was funded in many ways, including transfer of money through car windows on Delhi roads.
Indira Gandhi, codenamed VANO by the KGB,was sent suitcases of money meant for the Congress coffers.
On one occasion, a secret gift of Rs 2 million from the Politburo to the Congress was personally delivered by
the KGB head in India Leonid Shebarshin. Another million rupees were given on the same occasion to a newspaper supporting Mrs Gandhi.
the KGB head in India Leonid Shebarshin. Another million rupees were given on the same occasion to a newspaper supporting Mrs Gandhi.
In 1959, CPI general-secretary Ajoy Ghosh agreed on a plan to found an import-export business for trade with the Soviet bloc. In little more than a decade its annual profits grew to over Rs 3 million.
V. Krishna Menon, as defence minister, was persuaded to buy Soviet MiGs and not British Lightnings. His election campaigns in 1962 and 1967 were funded by the KGB. By 1973, the KGB had 10 Indian newspapers on its payroll plus a press agency.
During 1975 the KGB planted 5,510 articles in Indian newspapers.
Promode Dasgupta, the communist stalwart, was identified by the KGB as an Intelligence Bureau informant in the Indian communist movement.
Promode Dasgupta, the communist stalwart, was identified by the KGB as an Intelligence Bureau informant in the Indian communist movement.
During 1975, a total of 10.6 million roubles was spent on active measures in India designed to strengthen the support for Mrs Gandhi and undermine her political opponents.
In 1977, KGB files identified 21 non communist politicians (four union ministers) whose election campaigns were subsidised by the KGB.
In 1978, the KGB was running over 30 agents in India, 10 of whom were Indian intelligence officers.
In 1978, the KGB was running over 30 agents in India, 10 of whom were Indian intelligence officers.
A "Soviet Information Department" was set up in New Delhi, the largest Soviet propaganda office outside the USSR, headed by Nikolay Fedin who served for 10 years. They employed 200 indian nationals and had smaller offices in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta.
Its press section directly edited or rewrote information from Moscow for placement in Indian newspapers in English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi.
Of the all propaganda pushed, the major ones were: there were campaigns to implicate the US in the assassination of Indira Gandhi,
Of the all propaganda pushed, the major ones were: there were campaigns to implicate the US in the assassination of Indira Gandhi,
charges that the US tested chemical and biological weapons at the Union Carbide plant, and a disinformation campaign that led to the Indian government blocking the posting of US Foreign Service Officer George Griffin to New Delhi.
Examples of Soviet placements in Indian press and coverage is on page 28 of the document below.
Declassified CIA file: https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP86T00586R000400490007-7.pdf
Declassified CIA file: https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP86T00586R000400490007-7.pdf
“Moscow overtly and covertly placed over 160,000 items in the Indian Press, widely regarded as the freest in the Third world. Access to Press Trust of India, the largest English language news service,has become so automatic that some Soviet officials call it “Press TASS of India”
