Well-known writer Kota Neelima, wife of Congress national spokesperson Pawan Kheda, has reacted sharply to the allegations related to foreign funding and media influence networks being made on social media. Kota Neelima has completely rejected all these claims and termed them as defamatory, false and malicious propaganda. He has said that civil and criminal action will be taken against those who make allegations, those who publish them and those who deliberately spread them.
Political controversy increased due to allegations made on social media
In fact, many claims are being made on social media regarding the alleged nexus of Congress Party, foreign funding and media networks. These claims have created controversy in political circles. In a thread going viral, Kota Neelima, wife of Congress national spokesperson Pawan Kheda, has allegedly been described as the central face of this entire ecosystem.
Claiming affiliation with PROTO organization
It has been claimed in the social media post that Kota Neelima is associated with PROTO, a Delhi-based organization. According to the Post, this organization plays a role in deciding which Indian journalists are given foreign funding through journalism programs with American links. In the same post, Kota Neelima has also been described as a member of the Congress Working Committee and former vice president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.
I am shocked at this defamatory rant masquerading as investigation in this thread. It is a deliberate lie, published with intent to injure my reputation. Every material assertion is false and malicious. Civil and criminal proceedings are being initiated without delay against the…
— Kota Neelima कोता नीलिम (@KotaNeelima) December 20, 2025
Allegations made regarding ICFJ and foreign funding
The thread also alleges that PROTO was founded in 2018 by fellows associated with the US-based International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). It is claimed that PROTO later became a major partner of ICFJ programs in South Asia.
According to the Post, ICFJ receives foreign funding from Western governments, foundations and media organizations, which is channeled through journalism projects in India. It was alleged that through these initiatives, narratives are allegedly being created against the BJP government at the Centre.
Claims to be associated with many media and civil society platforms
It was further claimed in the social media thread that Kota Neelima was associated with or started many media and civil society platforms after 2017. These include names like Institute of Perception Studies, Rate the Debate, Hakku Initiative and StudioAdda.
The post alleged that journalists critical of the BJP government were given prominent space on these platforms and possibly influenced selection for foreign-funded journalism projects. However, no documentary evidence has been presented publicly to support these claims.
Allegations also regarding ideological organizations and issues
The thread also claimed ideological and organizational ties between the founders of PROTO and organizations allegedly linked to Jamaat-e-Islami. The post alleged that roles have been divided between foreign funding, narratives of political opposition and activities of Islamic organizations. It also said that the stories commissioned in India under ICFJ-related programs between 2020 and 2024 focused on issues like minority rights, hate speech, Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and bulldozer action, while other communal violence cases were ignored.
Effort to link FCRA and Rahul Gandhi also
It was also claimed in the social media post that the Congress Party’s opposition to the laws related to foreign funding, especially some provisions of FCRA, is related to the protection of this so-called ecosystem. Besides, an attempt has also been made to connect the international activities of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with this network. However, all these claims are currently unconfirmed and unproven.
Kota Neelima refuted
Responding to all these allegations, Kota Neelima issued a statement saying, ‘I am shocked by this defamatory nonsense in the name of so-called investigation in this thread. This is a well-planned lie intended to damage my reputation. Every claim made in it is false and malicious.
Kota Neelima made it clear that civil and criminal action is being initiated without any delay against all those who made the allegation, published it and knowingly spread and promoted it. He said that results will be ensured strictly as per the law.
