"For all the insults and bullying you've sent our way, this is the least we can do for you. To SIR With Love, from India," Mr Khera wrote on X. — X.com

New Delhi: Facing flak at home, the Chief Election Commissioner Mr Gyanesh Kumar’s policies are finding validation aboard. The President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump, lauded the Indian voting system where electors need to show their identity proof before pushing the button on Electronic Voting Machines (EVM).

Making a strong case for stricter electoral laws in the US, President Trump recalled CEC Mr Kumar questioning the US ambassador to India Mr Segio Gor over the lack of voter identification in American polls. Mr Gor had met the CEC on August 12 in the latter’s office. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Mr Trump said over 646 million people participated in the recent general elections in India, and yet less than one per cent voted through postal ballots while every voter had a valid photo identity document.

"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? India's last election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than one per cent voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a valid photo identity document. We need to pass The Save America Act, now!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

During the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management held in January this year, delegates of several countries showed interest in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the Photo I Cards of voters. Sources in the Election Commission of India said that the head of the election body of the US has also sought the concept note on SIR for their study.

Mr Trump has been insisting on passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, to curb electoral fraud. The Act would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote, impose a nationwide voter identification requirement and severely limit voting by mail. However, both Democrats and Republicans are divided over the issue, and the US Senate adjourned for a five-week recess earlier this month without any concrete steps for its passing.

Reacting to Mr Trump’s comments, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Mr Randhir Jaiswal said, "The credibility and robustness of the Indian election machinery is a well-established fact globally".

However, the Opposition party Congress was not amused by Mr Trump’s praise. “Please take Gyanesh Kumar to America and keep him there,” said Congress' media and publicity department head Mr Pawan Khera.

"For all the insults and bullying you've sent our way, this is the least we can do for you. To SIR With Love, from India," Mr Khera wrote on X.

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