Pawan Khera Takes Dig at Trump Over India’s Election System, EVMs

New Delhi, August 18, 2026; Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Pawan Khera has hit back at US President Donald Trump after the latter referred to India’s election procedures while advocating the passage of legislation on voter eligibility in the United States.

Khera took to social media to make a pointed remark aimed at Trump and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He suggested that Kumar could be sent to the United States along with India’s electronic voting machines, framing the comment as a response to what he described as repeated criticism and pressure from the US President.

The Congress leader’s remarks followed Trump’s renewed push for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Trump cited India’s electoral practices while arguing in favour of stronger voter identification and citizenship verification requirements in American federal elections.

In his social media post, Trump referred to comments attributed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar concerning the need for valid photo identification for voters. He also highlighted India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections, pointing to the large number of voters and the limited use of postal ballots.

Trump has been urging the US Congress to approve the SAVE Act, which his administration says would strengthen safeguards around federal elections by requiring proof of citizenship and identification for voter registration.

According to the White House, the proposed legislation would restrict voting in federal elections to US citizens and introduce additional verification requirements. The administration has also proposed tighter rules concerning mail-in voting and measures aimed at preventing non-citizens from remaining on voter rolls.

The White House has used electoral systems in countries including India and Brazil to contrast voter identification practices with those followed in the United States. It said those countries link voter identification with biometric databases, while the US relies more heavily on self-attestation for citizenship.

The SAVE Act was introduced in the US Congress on January 29. Trump’s latest comments have now triggered a political response in India, with Khera using the issue to question the US President’s remarks on India’s electoral system.