BENGALURU, 12 MAY

A social media post by the Congress in Karnataka, allegedly containing a map showing Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan, has evoked a sharp reaction from the opposition BJP.

The post on X, which has now been deleted by the ruling party in the state, was intended to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for "failing" to stop the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to Pakistan.

The IMF on 9 May approved the immediate disbursement of about USD 1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility.

India's opposition to the IMF came during the recent military conflict with Pakistan, post the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

Congress state president and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, "It is false. There was a small mistake; we have removed everything... someone has played a mischief."

Asked about repeated goof-ups on the party's social media handle, Shivakumar said, "The people responsible for the posts have been removed."

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that by posting a map showing Kashmir as part of Pakistan just hours after 'Operation Sindhoor,' Karnataka Congress has once again demonstrated its affection for "sinful" Pakistan.

"There is no doubt that the IT cell of the Karnataka Congress party is a sleeper cell for Pakistani terrorists," he posted on X.