Professor Shamika Ravi, a prominent economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), in a fierce rebuttal called out Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera for spreading false allegations. Khera claimed that Prof. Ravi had received funds from the Open Society Foundation (OSF), an organisation funded by the controversial billionaire George Soros, known for his alleged anti-India agenda.
The allegations and Prof Ravi’s scathing rebuttal have thrown the spotlight on the Congress-BJP rivalry over issues of foreign interference, integrity, and nationalism.
In a provocative tweet on December 10, 2024, Pawan Khera alleged that Prof. Ravi had received grants from the Open Society Foundation, insinuating a conflict of interest in her role as an advisor to the Prime Minister.
Khera wrote:
“So, Prime Minister’s advisor and secretary, Government of India, Dr. Shamika Ravi received a grant from the Open Society Foundation funded by George Soros. Will the PMO remove her and institute an enquiry on what all she has done or is doing to destabilise India?”
The Congress spokesperson’s remarks came as part of the party’s broader offensive against the BJP, accusing it of misusing its majority to shield corporate allies and divert attention from domestic controversies, including allegations of corruption involving the Adani Group.
Prof Ravi issued a fiery rebuttal, categorically rejecting Khera’s claims. Taking to Twitter, she clarified that during her tenure as an assistant professor at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in 2006-07, the Open Society Foundation had funded ISB for research on financial inclusion. She emphasised that no money was given directly to her or any other faculty member.
She tweeted:
“The statement below is entirely incorrect. In 2006-07, The Open Society funded ISB (for work on financial inclusion) – where I was an assistant professor teaching and researching on the topic. No money came directly to any faculty member. 18 years later, I joined the EAC-PM. I have never been more proud of my work, my nation, or my Prime Minister.”
Prof. Ravi also hinted at legal action, calling Khera’s allegations a “fit case for defamation.”
Taking a dig at the Congress, she added:
“Meanwhile, in 2020, George Soros declared his anti-India designs, and guess who swarms towards him?”
The controversy comes as the BJP has escalated its attack on the Congress, accusing its leaders of ties to foreign-funded organisations working against India’s national interests.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, during a fiery speech in Rajya Sabha, linked foreign-backed entities, including George Soros’s OSF, to targeted campaigns against India. He alleged that organisations such as the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) routinely publish strategically timed reports to undermine India’s image globally.
Trivedi cited a French media outlet’s exposé on OCCRP, which described it as a group funded by US government agencies and Soros’s foundation, among others. He claimed that these entities, under the guise of promoting democracy and human rights, actively work to destabilise nationalist governments like India’s.
The BJP also highlighted Soros’s open criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his comments supporting Kashmir’s independence as evidence of his anti-India agenda.
George Soros, the 92-year-old Hungarian-American billionaire, has become a polarising figure in global politics. Known for his investments in progressive causes and human rights initiatives, Soros is also accused of funding disruptive campaigns targeting nationalist governments.
Soros’s Open Society Foundation has funded multiple organisations in India, raising concerns about foreign influence in domestic policy and politics. In 2020, Soros openly criticised Prime Minister Modi and declared his support for Kashmir’s independence, a statement that sparked outrage in India.
The BJP has consistently portrayed Soros as a symbol of Western interference, accusing opposition parties like Congress of aligning with his agenda.
