German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel . CEC Rajiv Kumar said that the idea of democracy is deeply embedded in Indias historical context and traditions .
New Delhi, India, December 7: On Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, along with Philipp Ackermann, German Foreign Minister, and other German Foreign Ministers.CEC Rajiv Kumar said that the idea of democracy is deeply embedded in India's historical context and traditions, speaking on the occasion.He briefed the German delegation of the significance of Indian elections by highlighting the rigorous exercise carried out by ECI for over 950 million people across 1.1 million polling stations, employing approximately 11 million polling staff, ensuring that elections are free, equitable, accessible, and participative.Out of the logistical challenges, CEC Kumar said that the disruption caused by fake social media stories impacting free and fair elections is quickly emerging as a common challenge for most Elections Management Authorities, as it is the country's largest democracy with the most diverse geography, culture, and population.
Both India and Germany are members of the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Stockholm, and the Warsaw Community of Democracies.The second international conference on the Use of Technology & Elections Integrity will be held in January 2023, under the auspices of Summit for Democracy.During the event, senior officials from the German Foreign Office, the German Embassy in New Delhi, and the Election Commission of India were also present.