Professor Shamika Ravi, a prominent economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), in a 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.
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. Prof. Ravi also hinted at legal action, calling Khera’s allegations a “fit case for defamation.”
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.
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