- Indian envoy Kwatra criticises US Congresswoman Jayapal's voter roll remarks.
- Labels comments "unacceptable interference" in India's internal affairs.
- Defends India's robust democratic institutions, free and fair elections.
India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday (local time) criticised US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal for her comments on India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Kwatra called her remarks “unacceptable interference” in India’s internal affairs and emphasised that the country has strong constitutional institutions and a long record of free and fair elections.
Indian Envoy Kwatra Rejects Jayapal's Remarks
Responding to Jayapal, Ambassador Kwatra rejected her comments and defended India’s electoral system. He stated that India was a vibrant democracy with strong and independent constitutional institutions. Kwatra also said he remained open to a constructive conversation with Jayapal to address what he described as her misconceptions.
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“The remarks by @RepJayapal on India’s electoral and political processes are unacceptable interference in India’s internal affairs. India is a vibrant democracy, with robust, independent constitutional institutions and a longstanding record of free and fair elections. Always open to constructive conversation with the Congresswoman to dispel her misconceptions,”’Kwatra wrote on X.
The remarks by @RepJayapal on India’s electoral and political processes are unacceptable interference in India’s internal affairs. India is a vibrant democracy, with robust, independent constitutional institutions and a longstanding record of free and fair elections. Always open to constructive conversation with the Congresswoman to dispel her misconceptions.
— Amb Vinay Mohan Kwatra (@AmbVMKwatra) October 15, 2026
What Did Pramila Jayapal Say?
US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Wednesday had expressed concern over India’s voter roll revision process. She claimed that around 130 million people were at risk of being removed from the voting lists and compared the process with efforts by the Trump administration to change voting rules in the US. She wrote on X, “I am deeply concerned about the actions of the Indian government to purge 130 million people from the voting rolls. This appears to be a similar playbook to what the Trump Administration is doing here at home to undermine voting rights in a democracy.”
In a separate post, Jayapal supported non-violent protests in India, stating that people in both countries deserved free and fair elections and that democratic rights needed protection. “Protecting democracies everywhere is essential work, and the Indian people — like the American people — deserve free and fair elections. Non-violent resistance movements are essential in these moments and I stand with the Indian people who are engaging in non-violent protests to counter anti-democratic efforts in India,” she wrote on X.
Donald Trump Praises India's Election System
The exchange comes amid protests in India over alleged voter deletions and growing debate over electoral processes in both India and the US. It has also drawn attention as US President Donald Trump had recently praised aspects of India’s election system while arguing for stricter voting rules in the United States.
In a post on Truth Social on August 18, Trump referred to India’s recent general election. He stated that around 646 million people had voted and less than one per cent had used postal ballots. He also recalled a reported discussion involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and US officials about the use of photo identification in American elections.
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