The credibility and strength of India’s election machinery are globally recognised, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump cited India’s voter card system to press for domestic citizenship verification.
Making a strong case for stricter electoral laws in the US, Trump praised the Indian election apparatus and recalled Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar questioning the lack of voter identification in American polls. “I have no specific comments on these remarks. The US president made these remarks to drum up support for the SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote, impose a nationwide voter identification requirement and severely limit voting by mail. Less than one per cent voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document.
“India’s last Election had 646,000,000 Voters!
I can say, however, that the credibility and robustness of India’s election machinery is a well-established fact globally,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his bi-weekly media briefing. Trump said India’s chief election commissioner had spoken with officials from his administration earlier this month, and asked how US elections can be held without a valid photo identification card. “Earlier this month, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration – How can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID,” Trump wrote. “We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now,” he asserted.
