'Distraction...' - Shamika Ravi, PM EAC Member On Congress' 'Soros' Allegation Linking Her

Dr Shamika Ravi, advisor to the Prime Minister and secretary in the Government of India, on Tuesday, said that the opposition was 'trying to distract from the main issue' with their 'George Soros' claim mentioning her. Ravi spoke exclusively to Republic Business after this reporter reached out to her regarding her post refuting Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera's allegation pointing out the mention of George Soros-funded Open Society Foundation in her profile.

In a post on X, Khera claimed that Shamika Ravi received a ‘grant’ from a George Soros-funded organization Open Society Institute and questioned whether she would be removed from her position in the government.

'The Opposition is trying to distract from the main issue': Ravi 

Shamika Ravi’s initial reaction was firm and clear. She said, “The Opposition is trying to distract from the main issue, and that is why I don’t want to give this more attention.”

In her response on X, Ravi clarified the nature of the funding she had received, which was a grant in 2006/7 from the Open Society Foundation to the Indian School of Business (ISB) for research on financial inclusion. “No money comes directly to any faculty member,” she emphasized.

She also pointed out the context in which she had received the funding, saying, “I was an assistant professor teaching and researching on the topic, and that was over a decade ago. Since then, I’ve never been more proud of my work, my nation, or my Prime Minister.” In her post, Ravi also said, “Meanwhile, in 2020, George Soros declared his anti-India designs. Guess who swarms towards him?”