BJP Slams Karnataka Congress, Labels IT Cell a "Sleeper Cell for Pakistani Terrorists"
Bengaluru, May 12 – A now-deleted social media post by the ruling Congress party in Karnataka has triggered a political storm after it allegedly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan. The post, shared on platform 'X' (formerly Twitter), aimed to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for allegedly failing to prevent the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from approving a loan to Pakistan.On May 9, the IMF approved an immediate disbursement of approximately USD 1 billion to Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility. India had expressed objections to IMF assistance to Pakistan, particularly in light of the ongoing tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
Congress Responds to Controversy
When questioned about the controversial post, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress state president D K Shivakumar dismissed it as a mistake."It is false. There was a small mistake; we have removed everything... someone has played mischief," Shivakumar told reporters. Addressing concerns about repeated errors on the party’s social media accounts, he added, "The people responsible for the posts have been removed," though he declined to provide specific details.
BJP Condemns the Post, Accuses Congress of Pro-Pakistan Leanings
Reacting sharply, BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, accused the Congress of sympathising with Pakistan."By tweeting a map showing Kashmir as belonging to Pakistan, Karnataka Congress has once again demonstrated its affection for sinful Pakistan," Ashoka said in a post on 'X'. He went a step further, alleging, "There is no doubt that the IT cell of the Karnataka Congress party is a sleeper cell for Pakistani terrorists."
Ashoka also referred to past statements by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who had previously said there was "no need for war" in the context of India-Pakistan tensions. He claimed Siddaramaiah altered his stance following public outrage.
Deleted Posts Raise Questions Over Congress's Social Media Strategy
Adding to the controversy, Ashoka highlighted another Congress social media post calling for peace, which was shared shortly after the launch of Operation Sindhoor — India's military response to the Pahalgam attack — and later removed after drawing criticism.The incident has added fuel to the ongoing political rivalry between the BJP and Congress in Karnataka, especially amid heightened nationalist sentiments following recent cross-border tensions.