Ex CEC Quraishi Refutes Reports Of US Agency Funding For Raising Voter Turnout In India

Former Chief Election Commissioner denied allegations of US funding for voter turnout during his tenure, clarifying that an MoU with IFES involved training but no financial support.

Ex Chief Election Commissioner denied allegations of US funding for voter turnout in India.

Source : X/@DrSYQuraishi

Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Qureshi on Sunday refuted reports that US agency funding was used for raising voter turnout in India when he headed the poll body.

The ex-CEC made the remark after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by tech billionaire Elon Musk announced a series of expenditure cuts, including USD 21 million allocated for "voter turnout in India."

"The report in a section of media about an MoU by the ECI in 2012, when I was CEC, for funding of certain million dollars by a US agency for raising voter turnout in India does not have an iota of fact," Quraishi said in a statement, reported PTI. 

He further said that during his term as the CEC, there was an MoU with the Internation International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in 2012 to facilitate training for desirous countries at ECI's training and resource centre India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IDEM).

"There was no financing or even promise of finance involved in MoU, forget X or Y amount," he said.

Quraishi also highlighted that the MoU in fact made it clear in black and white that there would be no financial and legal obligation of any kind on either side.

"This stipulation was made at two different places to leave no scope for any ambiguity. Any mention of any funds in connection with this MoU is completely false and malicious, " he said. Qureshi was the poll panel chief from July 30, 2010, to June 10, 2012. 

The Elon Musk-headed US agency listed the entities for which it was cancelling the expenditure including USD 486 million in grants to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening including USD 21 million for "voter turnout in India".